By Shapleigh S.C.R. No. 45 76R2409 EFD-D CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The debt of gratitude that the nation owes to the 1-2 men and women who have served in the United States armed forces is 1-3 immense; these brave veterans have defended the values that our 1-4 country holds dear, many facing perils of life and limb to carry 1-5 out their duties; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Throughout the years, the people of the United 1-7 States have chosen to reward veterans for their service; various 1-8 federal and state programs designed to assist veterans with many 1-9 aspects of their lives, such as obtaining an education, buying a 1-10 home, and receiving quality medical care, have been created to show 1-11 appreciation for their efforts; and 1-12 WHEREAS, One of the most innovative programs of this nature 1-13 is state-owned veterans homes; these facilities represent a unique 1-14 partnership of veterans organizations, health care providers, and 1-15 governmental entities at the local, state, and national level 1-16 working together to provide affordable, quality long-term care for 1-17 veterans; and 1-18 WHEREAS, While some states have funded state-owned veterans 1-19 homes since the end of the Civil War, Texas has only recently begun 1-20 to support such homes; under authority granted by the 75th 1-21 Legislature, the Veterans' Land Board is currently establishing 1-22 four state veterans homes, and has secured funding from the United 1-23 States Department of Veterans Affairs to cover over half of the 1-24 construction costs; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Although the construction of these veterans homes is 2-2 a positive step, there are certain areas of the state still in need 2-3 of such facilities; for example, under current plans, veterans in 2-4 El Paso County will have to travel over 300 miles in order to reach 2-5 the closest dedicated long-term care facility; and 2-6 WHEREAS, Many retired veterans choose to live in the El Paso 2-7 area because of its location near Fort Bliss and its temperate 2-8 climate; El Paso County is an ideal location for a state veterans 2-9 home because of its older veteran population coupled with its 2-10 geographic isolation from such existing or planned facilities; now, 2-11 therefore, be it 2-12 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-13 hereby urge the Veterans' Land Board to request funding from the 2-14 United States Department of Veterans Affairs for the establishment 2-15 of a state veterans home in El Paso County, and, that upon securing 2-16 such funding, to begin the process of constructing the facility; 2-17 and, be it further 2-18 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 2-19 copy of this resolution to the chairman and members of the 2-20 Veterans' Land Board.