Op-Ed: By Shortchanging Veterans Homes, Biden’s VA Has Failed Our Veterans
By Brad Little • March 27, 2024Opinion – By Governor Brad Little, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, U.S. Senator Jim Risch, U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson, U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher
As elected leaders who work regularly with and in the federal government, we’re never really surprised when the feds go back on their word.
However, it is shocking when the federal government pulls the rug out from under our Veterans, who have served courageously for our country and deserve our support.
That’s exactly what Biden’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) did to Idaho Veterans and Veterans across the country. The VA approved Idaho and other states for grant funding to build and renovate Veterans homes and then yanked it, even after the states, including Idaho, put up significant resources of their own to get the projects going.
That means the construction and renovation of Veterans homes in Boise, Pocatello, and Lewiston now face significant hurdles and cost increases to get to the finish line, if we can even get there.
Veterans’ homes are exactly that – a home where our Veterans can live comfortably, share in camaraderie with other Veterans, and receive the healthcare they need after serving our nation and its people.
The State of Idaho was approved for grants from the VA to fund improvements to Veterans homes. Then, out of nowhere, the VA told Idaho and other states our funding was dependent on compliance with a separate law passed AFTER the grants were approved.
This is a classic example of the federal government moving the goal posts midgame, and this time, the losers are our Veterans.
Congress empowered federal agencies to issue waivers so states would not have to restructure bids and delay progress on needed projects.
In fact, the Biden Administration has issued numerous waivers for other projects related to transportation, housing, agriculture, and even for electric vehicle chargers. But not for Veterans.
That’s right. You didn’t read that wrong. The Biden Administration is supporting electric vehicles over Veterans.
Idaho Veterans should be outraged. Idahoans who support Veterans should be outraged.
Our congressional delegation has a solution: the Waiving Arbitrary and Inconsistent Veteran home Eligibility Requirements (WAIVER) Act. This legislative fix would require the Secretary of the VA to award the waivers for states like Idaho. That means construction on the Boise, Pocatello, and Lewiston Veterans homes could be back on track if Congress and the president act swiftly.
We shouldn’t have to do it this way. The VA secretary already has the ability to grant the waivers but just won’t.
The VA should do the right thing and keep its word to our Veterans by granting the waivers now.
This Op-Ed was jointly submitted by Governor Brad Little, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, U.S. Senator Jim Risch, U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson, and U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher. Op-Eds do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of those at the Idaho Dispatch.
Tags: Biden Administration, Boise, Brad Little, Department of Veterans Affairs, Jim Risch, Joe Biden, Lewiston, Mike Crapo, Mike Simpson, Pocatello, Russ Fulcher, Secretary of the VA, VA, Veterans, Veterans Affairs, Veterans' Homes, WAIVER Act, Waiving Arbitrary and Inconsistent Veteran home Eligibility Requirements Act
I think this is wrong, wrong, but what can we do?
Let’s do what we can to help our veterans and fill in this gap.
I have an event center and willing to do a fundraiser for our vets.
Anyone interested.
Does this surprise anyone? NO! A government that cares more for ILLEGALS that invade this country rather than those that fought for this country. A government that promotes mental illness and mutilation of children over the care of our vets.
While the Federal Government is pissing millions of dollars away on illegal immigrants and students that refuse to repay their loans; our military veterans are left with little. Thank the socialist politicians and bureaucrats for this shit show.
With the worst president in history, probably in the control of Obama, Clinton and other such traitors, it’s to be expected they would hit us vets, (I’m a Korean vet).
Tell your family and friends NOT to vote for Democrats.
They play pretend for different sides and use classic divide conquer strategy. Zombie repubs are too dumb or corrupt to care. Sad
Little’s comments are disingenuous.
It is apparently far easier to tongue lash the federal government for pulling support for our veterans.
This while Little and his crony appointments shortchange retirees in the PERSI fund. Pot calling the kettle black.
The Marxist Dems hate our troops and seek to replace them with foreign infiltrators!
100% disabled Veterans are living on below poverty pensions for years way below inflation rates and can’t feed their families or pay their rent. Any surprise we lose so many to suicide? Is this a surprise? Veterans are always last while the Feds hand out loaded debit cards, free phones, free healthcare, free lawyers and free rent to illegal aliens. No down payments or interest on their mortgages. Students not having to pay back their loans. Wonder why enlistments are down?
American tax payers paying pensions for Ukrainians.
68% of everyday Americans living paycheck to paycheck. Now you get to see how our disabled Vets have had to live for years. I always said, “ if they can do that to them, they have no problem doing it to you. Enjoy the ride America.