In May 2004, the over 60,000 veterans in the Sixth Congressional District and their families won a major victory when then-VA Secretary Principi confirmed the decision of the Capitol Realignment and Assessment Commission (CARES) to keep both inpatient and outpatient services at Bedford’s Edith Nurse Veterans Hospital. In the same announcement, the Secretary directed a study to assess the feasibility of building a single veterans' health facility in Boston.

Deeply concerned about such drafts, Congressman Tierney participated in meetings with the current VA Secretary and local officials, and he spoke at every public forum regarding our veterans' right to quality care near their homes. In each instance, Congressman Tierney continued to advocate on behalf of the patients, families, and the doctors and nurses at the Bedford VA. He continued to press the case that the Bedford VA plays a crucial role in providing quality care to veterans throughout New England and its unique programs and services cannot be replicated elsewhere.

On May 5, 2008, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) informed Congressman Tierney's staff that the proposed options to close the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford, MA or consolidate aspects of it elsewhere have been rejected and that the Bedford VA will be preserved. The decision signaled the end of the multi-year Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) process.