Oregon Public Broadcasting

Vancouver's veterans are getting a new clinic for secondary medical services. Congressman Brian Baird calls it a reversal of policies of the past.

Brian Baird  "You may recall about ten years ago, there was a proposal to actually close the entire Vancouver facility. That was a real challenge."

Baird says today Congress is more attuned to the realities of caring for the tens of thousands of Northwest military members.

He secured $5.8 million from a funding package passed in the last Congressional session.

The money will create a new outpatient health care building for dental care, prosthetics, eye care, an enrollment office to help people get started with benefits, and a few other specialties.

Construction will begin this fall.