WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today announced that the Veterans Administration will release $22 million in federal funding for projects aimed at Southern Arizona veterans.
The largest portion of the funding is a grant of $18.7 million for a 180-bed veterans nursing home in Tucson. Under federal guidelines, the state of Arizona must contribute $10 million toward the home in order for it to be built.
Renovation projects at the VA’s Tucson facility comprise the balance of the funds, $3.4 million. They include the installation of smoke detectors, fire sprinkler systems and energy conservation measures, as well as improvements to the facility’s polytrauma unit. The unit treats veterans and service members with burns, brain injuries and other life threatening conditions.
The projects will receive the funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama last month. The act also includes a one-time payment of $250 for veterans and their survivors to help mitigate the effects of the economic downturn. The payments are estimated by the Veterans Administration to cost $700 million nationally. They will begin in June.
Earlier this week, Giffords announced $28 million in federal funding for 34 military construction projects at Fort Huachuca, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and the 162nd Air National Guard. This funding will be used for 25 projects at Fort Huachuca, eight projects at Davis-Monthan and one project at the 162nd Air National Guard in Tucson.