H. Res. 1335 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

September 17, 2008. 

Whereas the primary mission of the National Association of 

State Veterans Homes is to ensure that each veteran receives the benefits, services, long-term health care, and 

respect each veteran deserves; 

Whereas other goals of the National Association of State Veterans Homes are to ensure that no veteran is in need or 

distress and that the level of care and services provided 

by State homes is of the highest quality; 

Whereas the year 2008 marks the 120th anniversary of the 

first time the Federal Government granted aid to States 

that had established State veterans homes; 

Whereas following the Civil War, a large number of indigent 

and disabled veterans were no longer able to earn their 

own livelihood and were in need of assistance; 

Whereas after the Civil War, because the Government was 

unable to completely meet the needs of this class of veterans, a number of States established State veterans 

homes; 

Whereas the first State home was established in Rocky Hill, 

Connecticut, in 1864; 
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Whereas on August 7, 1888, Federal aid was authorized for 

the first time to alleviate the burden of States in operating these homes; 

Whereas the Veterans Administration was established in 

1930, which led to an expansion of State programs to include three levels of care and increased per diem payments; 

Whereas in 1952, the National Association of State Veterans 

Homes was founded because of the collective need of all 

State homes to communicate with one another about the 

problems they faced and their experiences as well as to 

promote their interests in national legislation; 

Whereas in 1964, the State Home Construction Grant Program was initiated, which has greatly increased the ability of State homes to meet the increasing needs of veterans; 

Whereas on February 24, 1986, the Veterans Administration 

and the National Association of State Veterans Homes 

signed a Memorandum of Understanding, formalizing 

their mutual goal of providing quality care to veterans; 

Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs is authorized to 

participate in up to 65 percent of the cost of construction 

or acquisition of State nursing homes or domiciliaries or 

for renovations to existing State homes; 

Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs works to assure 

Congress that State homes are both financially equipped 

and institutionally competent to provide quality care to 

veterans through inspections, audits, and comparing 

records conducted by the VA medical center of jurisdiction; 
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Whereas State veterans homes are currently one of the largest long-term care providers in the United States; 

Whereas in a typical year, State homes will provide veterans 

with nearly 7 million days of nursing home care and 

about 1.5 million days of domiciliary care; 

Whereas currently, there are 135 State homes throughout the 

United States with more than 30,000 beds, which will 

only increase in the coming years; and 

Whereas a total of $165,000,000 has been appropriated for 

State homes capital projects in 2008: Now, therefore, be 

it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) commends the extraordinary contributions of 

those who have served in the Armed Forces of the Nation; 

(2) recognizes that the Nation has an affirmative 

duty to care for the men and women of the Armed 

Forces who have served their country faithfully; 

(3) recognizes the efforts made by the National Association of State Veterans Homes to aid the States in 

providing veterans with high-quality care; and 

(4) commends the efforts made by State veterans 

homes for the past 120 years in ensuring that the honorable veterans of the Armed Forces of this Nation receive 
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the highest quality of care worthy of the great sacrifices 

they have made. 

Attest: 

Clerk.