Congress reaches construction deal on Denver VA hospital

Lawmakers have reached a deal to keep construction underway on a troubled Veterans Administration hospital outside Denver.

The VA was on the verge of running out of money for the project, estimated to be $1 billion over its construction budget. It warned that construction would stop unless Congress acted by Sunday to lift a spending cap.

House Speaker John Boehner at first refused, arguing the VA needed to come up with a longer-term plan and make far-reaching internal changes in its culture.

He relented Thursday, agreeing to a short-term deal that will keep construction moving for three weeks while a long-term deal is negotiated.

Colorado lawmakers pushed mightily for an extension that would allow the project to move forward. They argued it was essential to the community.