Fairchild Amendment to Protect Veterans’ Housing in Southeastern PA
Winfield, PA - June 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — In an effort to protect the housing of nearly 80 veterans at a state veterans’ home in Chester County, Rep. Russ Fairchild (R-Union/Snyder) has successfully amended land transfer legislation that would maintain the residential units as long as veterans are housed there.
Under Senate Bill 568, nearly 96 acres of land from a portion of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Veterans’ Center property would be transferred to East Vincent Township. Specifically, the amendment addresses nearly 80 veterans who live in modular buildings on Parcel B.
“While I am not convinced this land transfer is in the long-term best interest of our veterans, I believe that this legislation must contain a reassurance to the nearly 80 veterans who live there that they cannot be kicked out of this housing until they can be relocated to a future facility at this site,” said Fairchild, who serves as the Republican chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.
The State Veterans Home there is expected to include a new wing in the next two or three years where the veterans can be relocated. In addition to the nearly 80 veterans who reside in this portion of the facility, there is a waiting list of approximately 110 veterans for admission to the home.
“Both the War Veterans Council and the State Veterans Commission had serious reservations about this land transfer legislation, and I was convinced that the bill must contain language addressing the plight of these veterans,” he continued. “To address this issue, I worked with Representative Tim Hennessey who represents the legislative district which the State Veterans Home is located. In his capacity as an appointed member of the State Veterans Home Advisory Council, and my committee chairmanship position, we were adamant about protecting the rights of the veterans who live at this site.”
Fairchild also noted his amendment, with strong support from Majority Chairman Anthony Melio (D-Bucks), was needed to give the federal Veterans Administration’s Outpatient Clinic on Parcel B the authority to maintain its facility and continue VA health care services to veterans at both the home and surrounding communities. This legislation allows both the Veterans Administration and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs time to work out an agreement on a new on-site building location.
The legislation now heads back to the state Senate for agreement on the amendment.
Rep. Russ Fairchild
85th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(570) 524-2788
(717) 787-3443
Contact: Jennifer Algoe Keaton
(717) 705-2094
Member site: RussFairchild.com
Caucus site: PAHouseGOP.com
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