U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (TX-13) testified before a House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee meeting today in support of H.R. 4505, a bi-partisan bill to expand access to State Veterans Homes to parents whose son or daughter died while serving in the Armed Forces. Thornberry is the chief sponsor of the legislation along with Rep. Vic Snyder (D-AR).
"America's fallen should not be forgotten, and one of the best ways to honor these men and women is to provide their parents access to our state veterans' homes when they need them," Congressman Thornberry said.
Known as "Gold Star parents," these men and women currently may receive care in veterans' homes only if they have lost all of their children in service to our country. Thornberry's bill would change these federal regulations to allow admission to any parent who has lost at least one child serving in the military. The Senate version of this bill, S. 1450, is sponsored by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).
The Thornberry-Snyder bill currently has 21 co-sponsors and is supported by the American Legion and the National Association of State Veterans Homes.
"We support this bill and are grateful to Congressman Thornberry for offering legislation that would extend the heartfelt gratitude of a grieving nation to the parents of a fallen hero," said Dean Stoline, Deputy Director of The American Legion's National Legislative Commission.
State Veterans' Homes were created following the Civil War and still play a critical role in providing care for thousands of veterans and their dependents. Currently there are 137 State Veterans Homes in all 50 States and Puerto Rico that provide a multitude of health care services.
"The current federal guidelines are unwarranted and exhibit an exclusionary intent toward parents who have suffered irreparable loss of a child, or children, who served their nation in uniform. This bill corrects this issue by authorizing admission to State Veterans Homes of any parent whose child perished in active military service to the United States," said Gary Bermeosolo, the Legislative Officer of the National Association of State Veterans Homes who also serves as the Administrator of the Nevada Office of Veterans Services.
State Veterans Homes are owned and operated by the state. The federal Veterans Administration (VA) subsidizes their operations by paying an annually-adjusted rate per day for each veteran in the home. The federal government also provides money to pay for construction or renovations to the state homes. Over the last five years, the VA has awarded over $424 million in grants to the states for construction of or renovations to state veteran's homes, which is 34 percent of all grants awarded since 1964.
"Those who lose their lives in service to America had devotion to our nation that knows no bounds, and our country's commitment to caring and comforting their parents should reflect that," Congressman Thornberry concluded.