Today, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County), a Navy Veteran, released the following statement after his vote helped pass the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill last week. This bill includes several provisions authored by LaLota, including support for the Long Island State Veterans Home, cleaning up the former Grumman site in Calverton, confronting mental health challenges, and addressing toxic exposure.
“As a Navy Veteran, I’m proud to have helped pass a strong bill to support my fellow Veterans and put Long Island first. In addition to fully funding Veteran health care benefits, this bill includes several provisions I fought for,” said LaLota. “Specifically, I’m proud to have secured provisions to support PFAS cleanup at the former Grumman site in Calverton, support the Long Island State Veterans Home, support Veteran mental health, and address toxic exposure, including Liver Fluke. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass all twelve appropriations bills on time.”
To read the full text of the legislation, click HERE.
Background:
The bill included five amendments put forward by LaLota, including:
- Funding for additional grants to expedite construction projects at State Veterans Homes such as the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook;
- Speeding up PFAS remediation efforts at closed military installations where PFAS contamination affects local drinking water, including the former Grumman site in Calverton which LaLota committed to working to help clean up;
- Support for peer-to-peer mental health programs, which support Veterans by providing them with space to share their experiences and receive support from fellow Veterans who understand their unique challenges; which is in line with LaLota’s Dwyer Peer Support Program Act;
- Support Herbicide-Related Toxic Exposure Research, which investigates the long-term health impacts of exposure to harmful chemicals, leading to improved medical care, accurate diagnoses, and targeted treatments for conditions linked to such exposures and supports LaLota’s Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act; and
- Supports Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), including the Riverhead CBOC, which aids veterans by offering accessible, comprehensive healthcare services close to their homes, ensuring they receive consistent medical care, mental health services, and personalized treatment plans tailored to their needs.
The bill honors America’s commitment to Veterans by fully funding VA health care benefits including toxic exposure-related needs. It also strengthens our strong national security by investing in crucial military construction projects, with a focus on investments in the Indo-Pacific region and military family housing.
The bill includes several of LaLota’s priorities including:
- $50 million for per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) remediation in the Base Realignment and Closure Account;
- $3.15 billion for suicide prevention and outreach programs;
- $582.55 million for suicide prevention outreach;
- $306.683 million for the Veterans Crisis Line;
- $1.1 billion for barracks housing projects; and
- $1.1 billion for critical investments in the Indo-Paficic region to bolster existing infrastructure and counter China.