California State Assemblyman Dan Logue | District 3
4/18/2012 | Press Release

Assemblyman Logue Champions Funding of North State Veterans Home

Cliff Wagner (916) 319-2003

SACRAMENTO - North State Assemblyman and Chief Republican Whip Dan Logue, in his role as the ranking Republican member of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number Four, led the effort today to fund the opening of the Redding and Fresno Veterans Homes. The subcommittee rejected the Governor's proposal to further delay their opening until 2014, and instead voted to appropriate $10.6 million to begin the process of opening these homes starting in January 2013.

"It is imperative that these homes open as soon as possible, because they will provide vital services to veterans in their time of need," said Logue. "Veterans in the North State and Central Valley deserve to see these homes open for service today, not two years down the road."

The governor's budget passed last June cut $20 million from the Department of Veterans Affairs by delaying the opening of the Redding and Fresno Veterans Homes by one year. The Governor has proposed delaying their opening by an additional year. Both homes are set to finish construction early this year, so this additional delay would mean the homes would be finished but empty for almost two whole years, until January 2014. However, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number Four voted today to reject the Governor's proposal and instead appropriate from the General Fund $4.8 million and 44 personnel for the Redding Veterans Home, and $5.8 million and 56 personnel for the Fresno Veterans Home, in order to start the process of opening the homes in January 2013. This means that the homes will be vacant for only a year while the Department of Veterans Affairs begins the process of hiring the necessary staff to start accepting veterans by July 2013.

"The brave men and women who defend our country and spread freedom throughout the globe deserve our utmost respect and consideration," Logue added. "I want to thank all the veterans who came today to voice their support for opening the homes, and the other legislators on the committee who supported this action in a bipartisan manner."

Final approval of the funding for the opening of the veterans homes will be taken up in the full Budget Bill that will be voted on in June.

Assemblyman Logue represents the 3rd Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes the communities of Butte, Lassen, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra and Yuba.