April 20, 2026
Ms. Escobar (for herself and Mr. Luttrell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide to certain congressional committees a briefing on the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in El Paso, Texas, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the El Paso VA Medical Center Activation Readiness Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Briefing on medical center of Department of Veterans Affairs in El Paso, Texas
(a) In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs under construction in El Paso, Texas, which shall include information on the following with respect to such center:
(1)
Staffing requirements and recruitment plans, including with respect to both clinical and support staff.
(2)
Workforce stability and hiring capacity, including any impacts of workforce restructuring, hiring limitations, or reductions in force on the ability of the Secretary to recruit, retain, and fully staff the medical center.
(3)
The timeline for the procurement and installation of medical equipment.
(4)
The specialty care services to be furnished to veterans.
(5)
The demand for care in the area to be served.
(6)
Any plans to transfer the care of veterans from other facilities or providers.
(7)
Any plans to coordinate with medical facilities of the Department of Defense, including the William Beaumont Army Medical Center, to ensure continuity of care.
(8)
Any access or travel issues for recipients of care from both rural and urban communities and plans to address such issues, including through coordination with transportation providers and municipalities and other government entities.
(b) Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees
means—
(1)
the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives; and
(2)
the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives.