Costa supports funding for Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs

WASHINGTON,D.C.- Calling for propercare and concern to be given to our nation's Veterans, Congressman Jim Costa,D-Fresno, has circulated a letter among members of the House of Representativesto support the recommended $85 million for the State Extended Care FacilitiesGrant Program.

In a letter sent to the Chairsand Ranking Members of the House Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life andVeterans Affairs and Senate Subcommittee on Military Construction and VeteransAffairs, Rep. Costa and his colleagues indicated the need for funding,specifically in California. "Our home state of California has more than 2.3 millionresidents who are veterans." Thelawmakers went on to call attention to the sad fact that, "Many of the men andwomen who served our country in uniform now find themselves in need for basichealthcare and housing."

The $85 million that will be provided to California for the State Extended CareFacilities Grant Program in the Fiscal Year 2007 Military Quality of Life andVeterans Affairs Appropriations Act will provide funding to construct andmaintain extended care facilities.

Noting the expediency of the situation the Representativesmade the case on behalf of Veterans stating, "In California, veterans are forced to endure atwo-year waiting list to join one of the state's three veterans' homes." The obvious consequence of such a longwaiting period is that many veterans pass away before they are ever admitted. Since this is so the lawmakers furtheredtheir argument for funds to provide not only new projects but maintenance ofcurrent homes. Any reduction to theState Extended Care Facilities Grant Program or restriction on the use of fundsfor new projects would delay the construction of these new California veteran' homes and jeopardizeconstruction and maintenance of homes in other states."

Costa and the other signatories concluded, "As Americans, wehave all counted on veterans in the past and we should never forge thecontributions they have made to our country."

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