Fiscal Year 2025 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act
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This law authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out a major medical facility construction project in St. Louis, Missouri, during fiscal year 2026, at a cost not to exceed about $1.76 billion.
The project includes a new bed tower, clinical building expansion, consolidated administrative building and warehouse, utility plant, and parking garages, expanding VA medical infrastructure serving veterans in the St. Louis area.
What this law does
What it does
The law authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a major medical facility project in St. Louis, Missouri, in fiscal year 2026. The project consists of constructing a new bed tower, expanding a clinical building, building a consolidated administrative building and warehouse, a utility plant, and parking garages, at a cost not to exceed $1,762,668,000. It also authorizes appropriation of that same amount to the VA's Construction, Major Projects account for fiscal year 2026, or the year funds are actually appropriated, to pay for the project. The law does not itself appropriate the money — it only authorizes the spending ceiling and the project's scope.
Key provisions
- 1Authorizes the VA Secretary to carry out a major medical facility project in St. Louis, Missouri, in fiscal year 2026, not to exceed $1,762,668,000.
- 2Specifies the project includes a new bed tower, clinical building expansion, consolidated administrative building and warehouse, utility plant, and parking garages.
- 3Authorizes appropriation of $1,762,668,000 to the VA's Construction, Major Projects account for the project.
Who is affected
Veterans who receive care at the VA medical facility in St. Louis, Missouri, VA staff and administrators who will use the new and expanded buildings, and construction contractors who would carry out the project. The Department of Veterans Affairs is directly responsible for executing the authorized work.
Why it matters
The authorization allows the VA to move forward with a large-scale facility upgrade that could improve capacity and modernize care delivery for veterans in the St. Louis region. Because actual construction still depends on Congress appropriating the funds, the pace and certainty of the project hinge on future budget decisions.
What changed
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- The authorized medical facility project may be carried out
Funding and costs
- $1,762,668,000
Construction of a new bed tower, clinical building expansion, administrative building/warehouse, utility plant, and parking garages at the St. Louis VA facility
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates S. 2393 would cost $1.657 billion in discretionary spending (subject to appropriation) over the 2025–2035 period, with no effect on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit.
S. 2393 would authorize $1.763 billion in appropriations for fiscal year 2026 to construct a new hospital facility, expand a clinical building, and build related infrastructure at the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in St. Louis, Missouri. CBO estimates this would result in $1.481 billion in outlays over the 2026–2030 period and $1.657 billion over the full 2025–2035 scoring window, with remaining spending occurring in later years. Because the spending is subject to future appropriations (discretionary), it has no effect on direct (mandatory) spending, revenues, or the deficit. CBO identified no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.
How it works
The VA Secretary is authorized, not required, to carry out the project once funds are appropriated to the Construction, Major Projects account, either in fiscal year 2026 or whichever year appropriations are actually provided. The law sets a spending ceiling but leaves procurement, contracting, and construction scheduling to the department's standard major-facility project process.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Became Public Law No: 119-97.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This act authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out a major medical facility project in St. Louis, Missouri, during FY2026.
The act specifies the maximum amount that may be spent on the project and details that the project consists of the construction of a new bed tower, clinical building expansion, consolidated administrative building and warehouse, utility plant, and parking garages.
Legislative subjects
Armed Forces and National Security; Building construction; Government buildings, facilities, and property; Missouri; Veterans' medical care