Sen. Banks promises support of new $2B Roudebush VA Medical Center

INDIANAPOLIS — During the early days of DOGE in Washington, Congressman Andre Carson, a Democrat from Indianapolis, announced that White House budget cutters were scrapping funding for a feasibility study to determine if the nearly century-old Roudebush VA Medical Center ought to be replaced.

“I have learned that DOGE has arbitrarily terminated contract funding for a feasibility study necessary to start construction of a new VA medical facility planned in Indianapolis,” Carson announced in early March.

Not so, said U.S. Senator Jim Banks, a Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee who was touring the Roudebush Center Wednesday afternoon.

“The big news that’s going on here at the Roudebush Medical Center are the plans for the $2 billion replacement hospital. We hope it will be built and online sometime in the next 10 years, probably sooner than that,” said Banks. ”This hospital is old. Much of the facility is outdated and we’re serving a lot of veterans here, so, we have to replace it. We have to build something new.”

Banks said each year Roudebush, a five-star hospital, provides services to some 70,000 veterans and their dependents.

”Veterans in this state know that our VA is top notch,” said Banks. “The care that they get at places like Roudebush and in Ft. Wayne, where I’m from, is top notch and that care hasn’t stalled at all. I expect the VA to be more efficient to more directly care for our veterans in the years to come.”

Emmy Hildebrand, CEO of HVAF Indiana, dedicated to addressing the acute housing needs of veterans, said those who have served in the military and fallen on hard times depend on the promise that was made the day they raised their hands and promised to defend the nation.

”Part of that reason to join is knowing that your country cares about your service, that we value the sacrifice that you’re going to make on our behalf, so, when veterans get out of the military and they have physical or mental health disabilities, we rely on the safety net to support that, through disability benefits, through health care resources.

”Military service is hard,” she said. “We ask a lot of men and women who volunteer to serve, so, having a resource like the VA available to them is key, not only to helping to encourage people to join the military but also keep that promise that President Lincoln made to those who borne the battle and also their widow.”

Hildebrand said HVAF Indiana caseworkers not only assess the needs of veterans seeking shelter but also examine their health and wellness requirements.

She said her agency has not been impacted by federal funding cuts.

VA Secretary Doug Collins has promised to eliminate 80,000 jobs nationwide, a 17% reduction in the administration’s workforce.

Banks would not answer whether he expects any of those job cuts to be visited on the Roudebush staff.

”They’ve only had 20 voluntary retirements due to what has been offered to our federal employees,” he said. “Our employees at Roudebush love working here. We don’t expect a lot more early retirements and they’re able to absorb that.”

Banks would not speculate as to the impact a potential 17% staff reduction would have on Hoosier veteran care.

”If we cut wasteful spending and bureaucracy, those are dollars and care that can go directly to veterans. I’m convinced that we have bloated bureaucracy in all of the federal government, including at the VA, but what goes on here on the ground serving veterans in downtown Indianapolis is important,” he said. “I’m so glad that Director Collins has cut a lot of DEI programs and wokeness that’s saved $17 million in the VA already.”