Pentagon opposes Murtha’s request

The Pentagon has asked lawmakers to remove a provision requested by Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) from the defense authorization bill that would delay construction of facilities expected to replace Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Defense officials have issued an appeal to House and Senate conferees reminding them of a White House veto threat over the provision, warning that any delay would hamper the development of advanced capabilities to treat wounded troops suffering from traumatic brain injuries and psychological conditions as they return from Iraq and Afghanistan.

{mosads}The Pentagon argues in its appeal that the House provision could cost the government up to $500 million more in construction costs and cause up to a two-year delay in its plan to close Walter Reed and build new facilities at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland and Fort Belvoir, Va., to replace it.

The Pentagon is likely to find a strong ally in the Senate, where several powerful Armed Services panel members oppose the provision that was included in the House version of the bill at the behest of Murtha.

The Senate passed its version of the 2009 defense authorization bill on Wednesday, and now the chambers are preparing to reconcile the two versions of the bill for final passage.

The powerful chairman of the Appropriations Defense panel has made it known that he doesn’t want to see the historic military facility shutter its doors as part of a congressionally mandated plan to realign and close military bases around the country.

To that end, he has worked to delay the closing of the hospital as well as the new construction of facilities at Bethesda Naval Hospital and Fort Belvoir until the Pentagon satisfies several conditions regarding the new construction and the costs associated with it.

Murtha put a similar provision into the 2009 defense appropriations bill that would delay the closing of Walter Reed in the District of Columbia. He wants  the design for the new facility in Bethesda certified as at least 90 percent complete by an engineer or architect registered in Maryland.

Murtha has also suggested that the construction contractor not have sole discretion over the design, but that it also be considered by the Pentagon, representatives from other healthcare facilities and current and former patients at military medical facilities.

Murtha is also asking for an independent cost estimate and a complete schedule outlining the closure, design, construction and transition of operations from Walter Reed to the new facilities.
Two foes of the House provision will be former Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner (R-Va.) and Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), who are expected to lobby against the delays during conference negotiations.

The Virginia senators drafted an amendment intended to rebut Murtha’s provision by stressing that the closure of Walter Reed and the two new constructions offer the Pentagon “the opportunity to transition from antiquated existing facilities into world-class medical centers providing the highest quality” of care. The amendment was never heard on the Senate floor, but is expected to be the base of their argument in conference. They also pointed out that Congress has been supportive of the Pentagon’s request to expedite the new constructions.

But the senators are asking the Department of Defense to establish a panel of medical facility design experts, healthcare professionals and patients to review the conceptual plans for the new Bethesda facility and advise the secretary of Defense whether the design will indeed provide a world-class facility. If that is not the case, the panel will have to recommend changes to the plan.

The Pentagon also will have to prepare a detailed schedule for the closure of Walter Reed and the construction of the new hospitals, as well as a plan to transition operations.