John Delaney: “My amendment responds to a common dilemma facing our military families, a dilemma that is deeply unfortunate, but easily…”

“My amendment responds to a common dilemma facing our military families, a dilemma that is deeply unfortunate, but easily solvable. When our warfighters and veterans head to the hospital, their families often face a choice between being there or paying their bills. This means that too often our military heroes are in the hospital alone without the support of their family. They deserve better. This amendment will increase funding for Fisher Houses, which provides free housing for the families of patients receiving care at military and VA hospitals. This additional funding is offset by a corresponding reduction to the defense-wide operation and maintenance account. Thanks to Fisher Houses, when our heroes are in the hospital, their families have a place to stay. Thanks to Fisher Houses, when our military families need our support, we lend them a helping hand, a home away from home. This program is not only compassionate, but it's cost effective. Since 1990, over 180,000 families have been served by Fisher Houses, saving military families over $200 million. However, you can't put a price tag on the emotional, psychological, and spiritual value these homes provide. After 2 years, we have seen resources strained and backlogs develop. We can't expect better results without improving our support structure. This amendment would lead to the construction of at least four new Fisher Houses next year. Four new homes means lodging for 2,000 military family members.…”