Congress says VA lied, ignored warnings on hospital cost

Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., speaks to members of the media following a U.S. Senate delegation tour of the over-budget Veterans Administration hospital complex, which is under construction, in Aurora, Colo., Friday, April 24, 2015. Also pictured are, from right, ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., and Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., speaks to members of the media following a U.S. Senate delegation tour of the over-budget Veterans Administration hospital complex, which is under construction, in Aurora, Colo., Friday, April 24, 2015. Also pictured are, from right, ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., and Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

By Associated Press April 24, 2015 1 min read

AURORA, Colo. (AP) – Members of Congress are accusing the VA of lying and ignoring warnings that its new Denver hospital couldn’t be built within budget or on schedule.

But during a visit to Colorado Friday, senators and representatives from both parties vowed to complete the facility and punish those responsible for massive cost overruns.

Members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee toured the construction site in suburban Aurora and held a hearing at the Aurora city hall. Two U.S. representatives from Colorado also attended the hearing.

The hospital is expected to cost $1.73 billion, nearly triple the estimate VA gave last year.

VA Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson said Friday the department has opened a second internal investigation into the overrun and said he would support an outside inquiry by the Justice Department or another agency.