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Senate Passes Vet Center Relocation Bill

Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs

 

The Oklahoma Senate has passed legislation that would allow for the relocation of the veterans center in Talihina.

The Tulsa World reports the bill passed Tuesday comes after two high-profile deaths at the Oklahoma Veterans Center in Talihina.

Republican Sen. Frank Simpson authored the bill, which would allow the Oklahoma Veterans Center to relocate within 40 miles of its current location to a town with at least 8,000 residents.

Simpson says the state is warehousing veterans in old facilities. He says building a new facility could range from $55 million to $65 million. The Department of Veterans Affairs would pay 65 percent of the cost.

Democrat Sen. Randy Bass says a lot of money was recently spent on improvements at the Talihina facility, including a new roof and sidewalks.

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