Political Quotes

“in March, I testified in front of the Appropriations Committee in support of the $600 million appropriations funding request for the Veterans State Home Grant. This is a program that funds the Roseburg State Veterans' Home. The Appropriations Committee came back with $171 million request instead. That is a $104 million cut from the 2026 enacted amount and an insult to those who served our country and who have earned the right to live out the rest of their lives in dignity. There is a huge backlog of projects that need funding from the VA State Home Grant, including the Roseburg State Veterans' Home, totaling over $1 billion--$1 billion. That is less than we spend in day on the war in Iran. Veterans in my district have been advocating for this home since 2011. Oregon has done its part. The State first set aside matching funds for this project in 2011 when Representative Cliff Bentz and I served in the State legislature and again in 2024. Unfortunately, the Federal Government has not held up its end of the bargain, and the need is clear. My district is home to more veterans than any other district in Oregon, and many live in rural communities with limited access to long-term care options. The Roseburg State Veterans' Home would house more than 150 veterans and be a model for community-based care. Our veterans have waited long enough to receive the care they deserve.”