Skip to main content

Harder Pushes for Completion of French Camp VA Clinic

August 30, 2019

Construction Bid is Step Forward for Facility, Progress Still to be Made

Modesto, CA – Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) today released the following statement regarding the announcement of S.J. Amoroso Construction Co. Inc. receiving the construction bid for the French Camp VA facility:

"We are long overdue in expanding local health care access for our veterans. Today's announcement is an important step forward in finally making the French Camp facility a reality. It is good to see tangible progress being made toward shovels in the ground after countless setbacks on this project.

"That being said, French Camp has been in the works for years, and it's ridiculous it has taken this long to get our veterans the care they've earned. I also would have hoped to see the Army Corps of Engineers better prioritize the hiring of local Valley workers, including veterans, as it made this contract decision. More federal projects need to put an emphasis on local hiring and incorporate the use of great programs like Helmets to Hardhats to put local veterans to work.

"I'll keep working to hold the VA accountable to keep this project moving, to prevent further delays, and to ensure that we maximize the range of services offered at this facility. We need to get the doors open and the lights on because this clinic will provide some additional services not offered at the Modesto VA, which means we can spare some veterans the trek to Palo Alto.

"We have much more work to do to ensure that every veteran has access to the full range of health care services here in the Valley."