Honoring the National Association of State Veterans Homes

HONORING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE VETERANS HOMES

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Mr. BRADLEY of New Hampshire. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I want to begin by thanking my colleague and friend from Colorado for his work in support of this legislation and also thank my colleague and friend Mr. Simmons from Connecticut who is traveling and could not be here to participate in this debate.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 347, which honors the National Association of State Veterans Homes and the 119 State veteran homes providing long-term care to veterans that are represented by the association for their contributions. The National Association of State Veterans Homes functions on an all-volunteer basis to improve the conditions of care furnished by State veterans homes and is at the forefront of developing new methods for providing long-term care services to our elderly veterans.

The Department of Veterans Affairs now provides State veterans homes with a per diem grant program which provides approximately 30 percent of the average cost of daily care, in addition to a grant program to support construction and major renovation projects. State veterans homes provide more than 50 percent of the total national long-term care bed capacity for veterans at an average daily cost that is significantly less than nursing homes operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. As the number of elderly veterans rises, State veterans homes continue to improve and sustain their health by assuring access to affordable and quality nursing care.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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