The 'AAp' rating on Illinois Development Finance Authority's bonds reflects the strong essentiality of the North Chicago Medical Center to the mission of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which enhances the likelihood that the VA will pay capital costs equal to debt service to the bond trustee under an enhanced-use lease and an energy services contract. The VA's ability to make debt service payments is derived from the U.S. government, which sets the VA's budget and annually appropriates money to fund the VA's operations through congressional spending bills. The rating also reflects the following credit strengths: The strong essentiality of the North Chicago Medical Center to the VA's mission in the Chicago metropolitan area, as evidenced by the
