The 2010 National Defense Authorization Act passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 68-29, allowing completion of the merger of the North Chicago Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Naval Health Clinic, Great Lakes.

"We have been working nearly a year on this legislation and over a decade on joining the VA Medical Center with the Naval Health Clinic in North Chicago," said Sen. Dick Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, in a release.

After the VA announced plans in 1999 to close the North Chicago VA Medical Center, Illinois House and Senate members requested an investigation into the possibility of having the Navy and the VA enter into a joint agreement for use of the facility.

Durbin later passed language requiring the Navy to expand the use of the hospital and to work with the VA to finalize site selection for the joint ambulatory care center and construction design.

Durbin first introduced Lovell Federal Health Center legislation in November 2008, and Rep. Melissa Bean, a Barrington Democrat, introduced similar legislation - co-sponsored by Rep. Mark Kirk, a Highland Park Republican - in the House of Representatives earlier this year.

Legislations passed the U.S. House last June and the U.S. Senate last July as part of the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, but differences between the two versions had to be eliminated, which was done on Oct. 8.

The final legislation then passed the House of Representatives on Oct. 9.

"The new Federal Health Center will improve the quality of care for veterans, service members and their families in North Chicago and stands a good chance of being replicated as a cost-saving measure across the country," Durbin added in his release.

Suburban lawmakers say it will save taxpayers millions of dollars that would otherwise have been needed to rebuild or renovate the Navy's hospital.

"By combining the VA Medical Center with the Naval Health Clinic, we will provide quality care to active duty personnel, veterans, and military retirees while saving the taxpayers $80 million in construction costs, using our resources efficiently and effectively," Bean said.

The Lovell Federal Health Center will be the first health care facility in the nation to be operated jointly between the VA and the Navy, according to the suburban congressmen.

The legislation will now be sent to President Obama for his signature.