[StBernard] Legislature overwhelmingly approves plan backed by Governor for LSU-VA health center in New Orleans

[Westley Annis]

Legislature overwhelmingly approves plan backed by 

Governor for LSU-VA health center in New Orleans 

BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Legislature today overwhelmingly approved a plan backed by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco's plan to secure a teaching and research hospital in New Orleans. Legislators approved a resolution to allocate $74 million in Community Development Block Grant dollars toward land acquisition and planning for the hospital, with the balance of $226 million in CDBG funds to follow subject to receipt of a viable business plan. In a statement issued from Baton Rouge, the Governor thanked legislators for advancing the proposal.

Statement by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco:

"In a bipartisan vote, the House and Senate has approved the LSU-VA partnership and dedicated funding for a new university teaching and research hospital in New Orleans. This vote is an important signal that Louisiana is committed to joining the Veterans Administration in this project.

"This new hospital will bring much needed health care services to the impacted region and allow Louisiana to establish a modern teaching hospital to complement more primary and preventive care clinics across the region.

"It is now time for us to all move forward with this project and bring health care back to the people of New Orleans."

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The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation
Louisiana's Fund for Louisiana's People
www.louisianahelp.org