Three Colorado lawmakers say the decision on whether to build a new Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Fremont County is stuck at the regional level, while the agency countered it must complete a required needs assessment before committing to a new clinic.

The proposed clinic could serve 5,000 veterans across Fremont County and is "urgently" needed, according to a letter lawmakers released Tuesday. Colorado Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, and Rep. Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, sent the letter to regional VA leadership in August. Pettersen also represents Fremont County.

"We urge you to expeditiously approve the construction request to better serve veterans in need of assistance," they wrote.

The funding for the new clinic was included on a VA priority list two years

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