[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 81 (Monday, May 23, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2017

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                               speech of

                          HON. PATRICK MURPHY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 18, 2016

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4974) making 
     appropriations for military construction, the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2017, and for other purposes:

  Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Chair, I strongly support grant funding 
for construction of state extended care facilities included in the 
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, which will go towards facilities like the Ardie R. 
Copas State Veterans' Nursing Home in St. Lucie County, Florida. Our 
veterans should be receiving extraordinary care, and these facilities 
will provide those who fought for our nation with the long-term care 
they have earned.
  The Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs recently resubmitted its 
grant application to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for 
construction funding for the State Veterans' Nursing Home in St. Lucie 
County. I am hopeful and urge that this bill will fully fund the new 
facility on Florida's Treasure Coast, including the costs to adhere to 
Community Living Center standards. This facility will be the first of 
its kind in Florida and fill an existing nursing home service gap in 
our state.
  I have been a strong advocate for the Copas facility, which will be a 
huge asset to our community and our veterans. The nursing home will 
provide health care, follow-up assistance, and long-term care services 
that we can be proud of, all while providing these services closer to 
home for many veterans. In addition to assisting veterans residing in 
St. Lucie County, it will also serve those in neighboring Martin, 
Indian River, Okeechobee, and Highlands counties as well as portions of 
six other nearby counties. This facility's location gives it the 
ability to reach approximately over 200,000 veterans with more than 
half of these veterans over the age of 65.
  These important grants will advance long-term veterans care on the 
Treasure Coast and across the country. I urge my colleagues to join me 
in supporting this critical funding.

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