FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 23, 2000
House approves measure that brings funding for state care facilities back to last year’s level; good news for Union Grove project WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives this week approved an amendment cosponsored by First District Congressman Paul Ryan that increases funding for state extended care facilities for veterans by $30 million, bringing it back to last year’s funding level. The amendment became part of Veterans Administration (VA)/Housing and Urban Development (HUD) appropriations legislation, which passed the House on Wednesday.
“This amendment helps state facilities for veterans by restoring the funding they need to support our aging veteran population,” said Ryan. “With the ranks of those reliant on VA care growing every year, states already face serious financial challenges in caring for veterans. State veterans homes are key care providers that must not be underfunded. Our retired servicemen and women deserve quality care – not cuts in vital programs.”
Last year and the year before that, the House and Senate approved $90 million in funding for the State Extended Care Facilities Construction Grant Program. This year’s legislation, however, funded the program at $60 million. The amendment Ryan cosponsored restored this $30 million shortfall. This spending was offset by a $30 million reduction of funding for NASA.
This amendment is especially good news for retired servicemen and women who stand to benefit from a veterans’ home project in Union Grove. The State of Wisconsin has requested construction of a second facility at Southern Wisconsin Center veterans home in order to meet the needs of the growing number of aging veterans concentrated in southeastern Wisconsin. Approximately 200,000 Wisconsin veterans live within 50 miles of Southern Wisconsin Center. The funding that Congress restored for state extended care facilities will help the veterans of Southeastern Wisconsin.