Blumenthal Statement Regarding VA West Haven Steam Explosion Report
[HARTFORD, CT] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released the following statement following the release of the final OSHA report regarding the steam explosion that occurred at the VA West Haven Hospital on November 13, 2020:
“This critical report strongly reinforces my repeated calls for renovating and rebuilding the VA West Haven facility to bring it into the 21st century. Like many such facilities around the country – but more so – this hospital desperately and urgently needs significant, serious investment. Our veterans deserve no less. Dedicated doctors, nurses, and other medical staff continue to provide world-class healthcare at this facility while coping with aging, decaying, and outmoded facilities.
“The leadership of the VA Connecticut has committed to correcting mechanical procedures and oversight weaknesses that resulted in the explosion and two worker deaths. I want to thank Director Al Montoya and his entire team for their positive and proactive response to addressing these failures.
“I commit to fighting for the investment necessary to rebuild and reconstruct VA West Haven as part of the presidential infrastructure package now under consideration by Congress. The November 13 tragedy was simply the latest and perhaps most serious of costly infrastructure failures, including burst pipes, insect infestations, and other signs of infrastructure collapse. Ultimately patching them with short-term fixes is more expensive than starting over. My hope is Congress will come together in a positive and proactive bipartisan response to build back better at the VA.”
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