The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved an amendment introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to advance critical seismic safety-related construction projects at facilities in Los Angeles.

The amendment is identical to legislation passed by the Senate unanimously in January and was included in the Military Construction-VA appropriations bill as an alternative path to passage. The amendment is also included in a larger legislative package approved by the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee earlier this month that is awaiting passage by the full Senate.

“The next big California earthquake is a question of when, not if. The seismic safety improvements planned at our largest VA facilities are essential to ensure the safety of veterans and their families, health care providers and staff,” Feinstein said.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that California suffers a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake every 6.3 years, on average. It also reports that California’s risk of experiencing a magnitude 8.0 or greater earthquake has increased by nearly 50 percent since the agency completed its last estimate in 2008.

A 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck near San Fernando in 1971, destroying a VA hospital. According to the VA, 30 veterans and 10 employees were killed, accounting for the majority of the fatalities that occurred in the disaster.

The final spending bill that passed in December 2015 included $563 million for California projects, including $35 million for facilities in west Los Angeles. However, the VA is not able to spend the money due to a technical requirement that the projects also be approved by the Veterans’ Affairs Committees. Congress has not yet passed legislation to authorize VA’s requested construction projects from last year. Feinstein’s amendment provides the required authorization.