Last year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) included one important change for veterans. The change, promoted by Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), increases the threshold for “minor construction” VA health care facility projects from $20 million to $30 million. This much needed change is essential for ensuring the VA is better able to address its infrastructure needs. 

PVA’s Director of Architecture, Mark Lichter, weighed in on why this change is critical for PVA members.

 “The NDAA will put many of PVA Architecture’s recommended VA spinal cord injury/disorder (SCI/D) center renovation and expansion projects back on track. The new $30 million minor construction cap better reflects current construction costs and will allow local VA medical centers to complete projects more efficiently and cost-effectively to better serve our catastrophically injured veterans with SCI/D. Additionally, the law now empowers the VA to adjust the minor construction cap in the future based on construction cost data. This will help avoid future delays of sorely needed veteran-centric projects that PVA has prioritized and advocated for to improve veteran’s health care and safety inside all VA SCI/D centers.”

The added funding for minor construction projects is a huge win in getting veterans the much-needed care they deserve.