veteransThe additional funding needed to complete the over-budget VA hospital in Aurora passed a major hurdle today, otherwise known as the U.S. Senate.

The upper chamber agreed unanimously to authorize the needed $625 million, an accomplishment we doubt would have happened under the former do-nothing leadership of Harry Reid.

U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner said in a statement that much work still needs to be done – like final passage by the House.

“I’d like to thank my Senate colleagues for their support of this measure, and I am glad that funding pursuant to this authorization is included in the Continuing Resolution being considered by the Senate. I call on the leadership of the House of Representatives to swiftly follow the Senate’s lead in passing an authorization for this funding. I will work closely with my House colleagues, as I have been throughout this process, on ensuring that happens.”

And of course, it still need to get past that pesky government shutdown looming next week, matters in which U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet is not helping. Bennet voted this week to filibuster the Defense spending bill, which includes funding for the VA hospital.