Washington D.C. - On Wednesday, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (CA-12), and Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) wrote to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Douglas Collins pressing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for information on VA's decision to unilaterally cancel the construction of a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) and multiphase columbarium in Alameda, California. The project was years in the making and had already received over $395 million in Congressionally approved federal funding. The members demanded VA reconsider the decision to ensure that the 270,000 Veterans in the Bay Area receive the care and services they deserve.

Over the last decade and across multiple administrations, the City of Alameda, then-Congresswoman Barbara Lee, VA, the Department of the Navy, and other stakeholders have worked on the Alameda Point project to remedy gaps in service and better fulfill the needs of the veteran population in the Bay Area.

The Members also questioned VA about recently expired funding for a San Francisco VA Medical Center construction project, demanding answers on how VA will address multiple legacy construction projects that address longstanding research, access and care needs for Veterans.

In the letter to Secretary Collins, the members write:

"We are writing to express our serious concerns regarding the lack of transparency and dissemination of basic information on the Alameda Point VA health care facility and columbarium…. The Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs sent an opaque notification to staff on August 28, 2025. The communication said that VA no longer intends to construct and operate a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) and multiphase columbarium in Alameda, California…

"Our offices, as well as the office of former Congresswoman and now Mayor of Oakland Barbara Lee, frequently field inquiries from Veterans and families of Veterans who feel inadequately served by current VA facilities in the Bay Area. Veterans must have a voice in their care, and the clear message is that Veterans want the VA.... we respectfully request that VA reconsider its decision to terminate the CBOC and columbarium projects.

The full letter can be read here.(link is external)