[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.