Resident Commissioner Announces Committee Approval of New VA Community Living Center Lease in Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández celebrated the approval by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of a major General Services Administration (GSA) lease to establish a new Community Living Center for veterans in Puerto Rico. The 20-year lease, valued at $10.3 million annually, would cover up to 249,427 square feet and include 300 parking spaces for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The facility would be located in the vicinity of San Juan.

“This project represents our commitment to aging veterans who have sacrificed for this country and deserve care with dignity, proximity, and compassion,” said Hernández. “Too many of our veterans in Puerto Rico have had to wait, travel, or go without. This new Community Living Center is a step toward equity in veterans’ care and infrastructure.”

Hernández thanked Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) for his engagement and support for Puerto Rico’s veteran community.

“American veterans deserve access to reliable, state-of-the-art services—no matter where they live,” said Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.). “After yesterday’s successful T&I markup, and thanks to the leadership of Resident Commissioner Hernandez, veterans living in Puerto Rico are one step closer to accessing a new, nearly 250,000-square feet community living center in San Juan.”

Hernández emphasized that this project is particularly urgent given the island’s aging veteran population and longstanding disparities in access to long-term care. The new center is expected to offer residential care and rehabilitative services in a modern, veteran-centered facility.

“We’re building something worthy of their service,” added Hernández. “Puerto Rico’s veterans have earned that.”

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