Senate Appropriations Committee Approves $6.9 Million for the Portland Community-Based Outpatient Clinic to Lease New Facility

            WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, announced today that the fiscal year (FY) 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill included $6.9 million in funding for the Portland Community-Based Outpatient Clinic to lease a new facility.

The lease will facilitate a partnership between the VA Maine Healthcare System, Maine Medical Center, and Tufts University School of Medicine.  The consortium will consolidate existing community-based outpatient clinics in Saco and Portland, enhancing outpatient services by co-locating programs at one site.  The new facility will increase access to the current services and select specialty care services, which will improve the quality of care.

“Preserving veterans’ access to the health care they have earned is one of my top priorities,” said Senator Collins.  “VA outpatient clinics provide an essential service to our veterans by allowing them to receive outpatient care without the hassle of traveling to a medical center.  I am pleased to support this funding, which will improve the VA’s delivery of outpatient services and specialty care to our veterans in Greater Portland.”

The funding for the lease was approved during the Committee’s consideration of the FY 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill, which provides resources for veterans’ benefits and programs and makes funding available for military construction projects. Senator Collins voted in favor of the bill, which was approved unanimously and now awaits final consideration by the full Senate.

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