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 re-
ceives the benefits, services, long-term health care, and 
respect each veteran deserves; 
Whereas other goals of the National Association of State Vet-
erans 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 vet-
erans, a number of States established State veterans 
homes; 
Whereas the first State home was established in Rocky Hill, 
Connecticut, in 1864;
•HRES 1335 EH 
Whereas on August 7, 1888, Federal aid was authorized for 
the first time to alleviate the burden of States in oper-
ating these homes; 
Whereas the Veterans Administration was established in 
1930, which led to an expansion of State programs to in-
clude three levels of care and increased per diem pay-
ments; 
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 Pro-
gram was initiated, which has greatly increased the abil-
ity of State homes to meet the increasing needs of vet-
erans; 
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 jurisdic-
tion;
•HRES 1335 EH 
Whereas State veterans homes are currently one of the larg-
est 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 Na-
tion; 
(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 As-
sociation 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 honor-
able veterans of the Armed Forces of this Nation receive