Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Veterans' Administration has the green light to move ahead with plans to build a new clinic at the VA Hospital in Walla Walla, Washington.

President Obama signed a bill into law Wednesday to do just that. The facility serves about 70,000 veterans in eastern Washington, Oregon and north Idaho. Doug Nadvornick reports.

The president signed off on a plan by the Veterans' Adminstration to spend $71 million for a new outpatient clinic.

The move marks a reversal of fortune for the Walla Walla hospital.

In 2003, the agency considered closing the facility to save money. The next year, after prodding from Washington Democratic Senator Patty Murray, the VA administrator vowed to keep the facility open. And now the agency is even expanding it.

The clinic won't be the only addition to the vets' facilities in Walla Walla. In August, the VA announced it would build a new community veteransí center there.

Senator Murray says that will serve military people who suffer from mental health problems.