The Capitol Building in Washington DC.
WASHINGTON – Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04) and Rep. Steve Womack (AR-03) introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that will give the Department of Defense authority to provide grant funding to the Army-Navy Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas for on-site security and other site-planning activities.
“The Army Navy Hospital is rich with history, and it’s a shame that it’s become a victim to time, unauthorized access, and vandalism. For too long, there hasn’t been a clear-cut path for the future of this site that holds so much value for not just Hot Springs, but the entire state of Arkansas,” Rep. Westerman said. “I was grateful for the opportunity to work with my friend and colleague, Congressman Womack, to have this amendment included in the NDAA. This is the next step in a whole of government approach to properly secure the site and put it on a clear path to more beneficial use in the future.”
“The abandoned Army-Navy hospital is a liability in the Hot Springs area that must be addressed quickly and effectively. The passage of the amendment today is a step toward this goal,” Rep. Womack said. “I’m proud to join my friend Mr. Westerman in his efforts to keep Arkansans safe.”
Background:
The site of the former Army-Navy Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas, which sits atop the city’s downtown on National Park Service land, is rapidly falling into disrepair. The current major buildings, built by the U.S. Government in the early 1930s, once served as the first general hospital in the country to serve Army and Navy patients. The site was deeded by the Army to the State of Arkansas and became a state-run rehabilitation center in 1960; later being converted into the Arkansas Career Training Institute. In 2019, the State ceased all operations at the site, and since then, the site has been vacant. As many Hot Springs residents know, the buildings and surrounding grounds have been targets of vandalism and unauthorized access in recent years, leading to serious safety and fire concerns.
Click here to view the amendment.