By a vote of 326-1, the The U.S. House of Representatives voted Tuesday afternoon, to approve H.R. 3521, the joint resolution known as the Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act.

The resolution authorized spending of nearly $240 million for 27 different leases in the United State and Puerto Rico, but did not include an early $10 million request submitted for a facility in Rapid City. The passage of the resolution will preserve the Hot Springs VA for Fiscal Year 2014, according to a press release from S.D. Representative Kristi Noem's office.

“The Hot Springs VA Hospital has long provided critical care to South Dakota veterans,” said Rep. Noem. “Today is a small but well-deserved victory in our ongoing effort to preserve the Hot Springs VA and ensure it is able to continue to deliver the best possible healthcare to South Dakota veterans. This facility serves a critical role in the Hot Springs community and proudly serves the women and men who have fought and sacrificed for our country.”

There were 28 projects requested by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs and the Rapid City project is the lone project not included in the resolution.

The vote comes on the second anniversary of the Department of Veterans Affairs announcing that the agency intended to reconfigure the Black Hills Health Care System. Passage of the resolution will ensure that the Hot Springs VA will remain open until the Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki makes an official decision.

The joint resolution will now go to the Senate for approval.