U.S. Representatives John Carter (R-Round Rock) and Chet Edwards (D-Waco) today announced that the Department of Defense has approved their proposal to have Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood constructed in its entirety starting in 2010, rather than in two phases as planned. On July 22nd, the two congressmen recommended to Pentagon officials that they combine the two construction phases into one after being told by Fort Hood officials that the hospital could be built sooner and save taxpayer dollars.

Phase I was funded with $621 million included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, known as the stimulus bill. Phase II will now be funded with $306 million with funds from the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill, which was passed into law earlier this year to fund U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Combining Phase I and II would be a win for the taxpayer and our military families," says Carter. "We would save on construction costs, and improve health services more quickly. With the majority of funds remaining unspent and unclaimed, we could put those funds to use right now on this project for the benefit of all."

Edwards, Chairman of the House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee said, "This is great news for Fort Hood. No military installation in America has sent more troops to Iraq and Afghanistan than Fort Hood. Fort Hood troops and their families deserve a new, modern hospital that will provide them more timely, world-class medical care while saving taxpayer dollars. Also, by utilizing the full $927 million for both phases in 2010, we will positively impact the Central Texas economy, including the Waco area."

On July 22nd, Carter and Edwards submitted a bipartisan request to the Department of Defense to complete Phases I and II of the replacement project simultaneously. Carter and Edwards added $488 million to renovate military hospitals under the bill as members of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Appropriations. Now that the Carter-Edwards proposal has been approved by the Department of Defense, the project will save substantially on construction costs, avoid a long period of split activity within the Medical Center, and more rapidly upgrade medical services for soldiers, dependents, and retirees.

Previous construction plans had called for Phase I of the project to break ground in September 2010, with completion set for 2013 at the current site of the Fort Hood Stadium. Phase 2 of the project was not set to begin until 2016 with completion by 2019. Now, that date has now been moved up to 2010. The new hospital will include a three-story Clinic Building and a three-story Ancillary Building. The buildings will house numerous departments including Primary Care Clinics and General Surgery. It will include a 5-story tower that will house the emergency department, medical surgery center, and intensive care units, among other departments.

Both Congressmen are members of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Appropriations, and Co-Chairs of the House Army Caucus. Carter currently represents Fort Hood, while Edwards represented the facility prior to congressional redistricting in 2004.