VA Portland Health Care System Receives Funding For Continued Infrastructure Improvements - 07/22/26

PORTLAND, Ore. – VA Portland Health Care System received funding for Non-recurring Maintenance projects in the second quarter of fiscal year 2026, after receiving funding in the year.

The funding is part of a record $4.8 billion in nationwide VA spending to modernize, repair, and improve health care facilities in FY2026 via the Veterans Health Administration’s Non-recurring Maintenance program.

Funding for VA Portland Health Care System improvement projects for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 are:

• Vancouver Campus – Bldg. 2 HVAC – Laundry and Warehouse upgrade for ventilation, heating and cooling
• Portland Campus – Electrical – improves hospital electrical resilience, replaces 75 large breakers, and improves chilled water production
• Vancouver Campus – CLC Med Gas Outlets – E-wing (Comprehensive Rehabilitation Unit) medical gas replacement
• Vancouver & Portland Campus – EHRM Phase 2 – completes information technology requirements for September 2027 Federal EHR deployment

“This funding allows VA Portland Health Care System to continue modernizing and improving, so our facility remains safe, efficient, and equipped to provide high-quality care for our Veterans in the Portland-Metro area,” said Karla Azcuy, Director.

Of the total $4.8 billion committed for fiscal year 2026, VA has obligated a total of $2.2 billion. Obligation of funds includes:

• $915 million to repair and upgrade outdated infrastructure systems in medical facilities.
• $229 million for maintenance and modernization of facility infrastructure to support future electronic health record system updates.
• $11 million for major building upgrades like elevators, electrical systems, and boiler plants.

This investment is just one of many ways the Trump Administration is making VA work better for Veterans. For example, VA has: 

• Enrolled more than 180,000 new Veterans in VA health care in 2026. 
• Opened 38 new VA health care facilities since Jan. 20, 2025, expanding health care access for Veterans around the country. 
• Reduced the backlog of Veterans waiting for VA benefits by 72% since Jan. 20, 2025.
• Offered Veterans more than 2.8 million appointments outside of normal operating hours. These early-morning, evening, and weekend appointments are giving Veterans more timely and convenient options for care.
• Offered Veterans more than 2.3 million appointments outside of normal operating hours, giving Veterans more timely and convenient options for care. 
• Permanently housed 51,936 homeless Veterans across the country in FY25, the highest total in seven years. 

Oregon And Washington Veterans Roll Into Detroit, Mich. For The Annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games - 07/06/26

DETROIT, Mich. – This July, Veterans across the country will arrive in Detroit, Mich. to participate in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games – an annual adaptive sports competition co-presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) for Veterans who require the use of a wheelchair for athletic competition.

Four local Veterans from Oregon and Washington will participate in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) event, July 9–14.

The five-day event, with its focus on demonstrating the unstoppable character of Veterans, offers competitors the opportunity to showcase their talents through events such as basketball, softball, and wheelchair rugby. Approximately 500 Veterans from across the country are expected to participate and will be supported by around 3,000 volunteers and sponsors.

“The Wheelchair Games epitomizes the strength, courage, and determination of our Veterans.” Said Dave Tostenrude, Director of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. “I’m excited for them to have this impactful experience as part of their health care journey.”

The first Wheelchair Games was held in 1981. For 45 years, the event has empowered Veterans to live more independent and active lives through adaptive sports, fitness, and recreation. World-class instructors and recreation therapists help Veterans experience the full potential of rehabilitation and sports medicine as a tool to adapt and overcome perceived barriers in our communities, travel, and in life beyond the perception of “disability”.

To view content from the event, follow and tag @Sports4Vets on X, Instagram, and Facebook and search #wheelchairgames. B-roll video and photos will be available during the event at https://www.flickr.com/photos/veteransaffairs/albums/with/72177720326323748.

*Photos will be updated each day of the event, beginning July 10 and can be searched by bib number at https://runsignup.com/Race/Photos/MI/Detroit/USNationalVeteransWheelchairGames.
 

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