[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 42 (Thursday, April 10, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE VETERANS' NURSING CARE AVAILABILITY ACT OF 1997

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                           HON. SUE W. KELLY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 1997

  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Veterans' 
Nursing Care Availability Act of 1997. This important legislation will 
help correct a flaw that exists in the way that the Department of 
Veterans Affairs ranks applications for its State Extended Care 
Facilities Grant Program.
  The State Extended Care Facilities Grant Program provides Federal 
funding for up to 65 percent of the total cost for the construction of 
State veterans nursing homes. Many States have been desperately trying 
to get a grant under this program to assist in the construction of 
State veterans nursing homes. However, despite documented need, they 
have been unable to get the Federal funding necessary to move forward.
  Because of the overall inequity of the system that the VA uses to 
rank State applications, I have decided to introduce legislation that 
will ensure that States with the greatest veteran need receive priority 
funding.
  The current system that the VA uses to rank State applications gives 
priority to States that have never received a similar grant in the 
past. While on the surface this may seem logical, the practical effect 
is that States with the highest veteran's need are often neglected 
because they received a grant sometime in the past. As a matter of 
fairness, I believe applications should be ranked solely on the needs 
of veterans.
  The legislation I am introducing will correct this inequity by 
ensuring that States with the highest need receive priority. The 
Department of Veterans Affairs has determined that there should be 4 
nursing home beds for every 1,000 veterans in a State. Using this 
determination, my bill would have applications based on a formula where 
veteran need is defined as a number of veterans in the State multiplied 
by 4 and divided by 1,000 (need = vet. population * 4/1,000).
  Mr. Speaker, this is an important piece of legislation for our 
Nation's veterans. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in working 
for its enactment.

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