[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 347 Referred in Senate (RFS)]


109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 347


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 25, 2006

      Received and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring the National Association of State Veterans Homes and the 119 
  State veterans homes providing long-term care to veterans that are 
 represented by that association for their contributions to the health 
       care of veterans and the health-care system of the Nation.

Whereas the National Association of State Veterans Homes was established in 1954 
        by a group of administrators of State veterans homes to represent the 
        interests of those homes in a unified voice before Congress and the 
        Executive Branch;
Whereas the National Association of State Veterans Homes functions on an all-
        volunteer basis and focuses on

endeavors that improve the conditions of care furnished to veterans by 
State veterans homes, elevate and monitor the qualifications for managers 
of such homes, and provide continuing education standards for staff who 
provide care to veterans in State veterans homes;

Whereas the National Association of State Veterans Homes has been and continues 
        to be in the forefront of developing and supporting new methods and 
        models for providing long-term care services to elderly veterans, such 
        as hospice care, respite care, Alzheimer's care, and adult day health 
        care;
Whereas State veterans homes, which provide long-term care to thousands of 
        veterans, were established initially in the States of Connecticut, 
        Kansas, Ohio, and Maine in 1868 to house, feed, and care for thousands 
        of homeless, wounded, and permanently scarred Union soldiers and thus 
        have been in existence since before the establishment of the Department 
        of Veterans Affairs, the earlier Veterans' Administration, and its 
        predecessor agencies;
Whereas in 1888 Congress authorized the Federal payment of a daily allowance of 
        20 cents for the care of each former soldier or sailor in a State home-
        hospital, an allowance that continues today in the form of a per diem 
        grant program administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs that is 
        authorized to provide up to 50 percent of the average daily cost of 
        care, but currently provides only approximately 30 percent;
Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs further participates in the care of 
        veterans in State homes with a matching grant program to support 
        construction and major renovation projects to sustain those homes and 
        build towards sufficient levels of available, high-quality health care;
Whereas the State veterans homes offer long-term services to eligible veterans 
        in need of such services on certification of the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs at 119 facilities in 47 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico;
Whereas the States determine the allocation of nursing home beds in individual 
        facilities, and establish the eligibility of veterans and their 
        dependents to occupy those beds, following Federal guidelines;
Whereas within the limits of their capacities, the State veterans homes provide 
        care for over 27,500 veterans each day, accounting for more than 50 
        percent of the total national long-term care bed capacity for veterans, 
        thereby sharing the enormous responsibility of caring for veterans with 
        the Department of Veterans Affairs in an admirable partnership;
Whereas State veterans homes provide quality care for elderly and disabled 
        veterans at an average daily cost that is significantly less than 
        nursing homes operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs;
Whereas the number of elderly veterans, particularly those over age 85, 
        continues to rise and the need for long-term care services for those 
        veterans will continue to rise in the coming years; and
Whereas the Nation's State veterans homes continue to achieve their purpose of 
        improving and sustaining the health of elderly, sick, and severely 
        disabled veterans by assuring access to affordable nursing care in 
        settings that provide personal dignity to truly deserving veterans, 
        often at the end of lives spent in service to the Nation: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) honors the National Association of State Veterans Homes 
        and the 119 State veterans homes providing long-term care to 
        veterans that are represented by that association for their 
        significant contributions to the health care of veterans and to 
        the health care system of the Nation;
            (2) commends the thousands of individuals who work in, or 
        on behalf of, State veterans homes for their contributions in 
        caring for elderly and disabled veterans;
            (3) recognizes the importance of the partnership between 
        the States and the Department of Veterans Affairs in providing 
        long-term care to veterans; and
            (4) affirms the support of Congress for continuation of the 
        State homes program to address the known and anticipated needs 
        of the Nation's veterans for institutional long-term care 
        services.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 24, 2006.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.