Senator Flanagan And Congressman Bishop Join Together To Help Long Island Veterans

Senator John Flanagan (2nd Senate District) and Congressman Timothy Bishop (1st Congressional District) recently joined Long Island State Veterans Home (LISVH) Executive Director Fred S. Sganga and Stony Brook University President Samuel Stanley to formally announce a joint effort between the New York State Senate, the Long Island Congressional Delegation and the Veterans Administration that will deliver $16 million in funding for facility upgrades at the Home.

The announcement was made as part of the LISVH’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, an event recognizing the continuing care provided to over 5,000 Long Island veterans and reinforcing the LISVH’s unyielding commitment to caring for our future veterans.

The funding secured through the efforts of Senator Flanagan and Congressman Bishop will be utilized to renovate the resident living space, replace the emergency generator, and to install a new high efficiency heating, air conditioning and hot water system.

Each year, the federal government allocates approximately $80 million to fund the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program.  Through this initiative, individual states compete for funding which must be used to either construct or renovate designated State Veterans facilities that provide skilled nursing or domiciliary care.  The federal government appropriates 65% of the construction costs provided that each state makes a commitment of 35% in state matching funds.  For the last four years, Senator Flanagan has worked on behalf of the Veterans Home to secure the state funding necessary for drawing down these federal dollars.

“The VA Construction Grant program is a great example of a successful partnership between the Federal and State government.  This program has enabled the Long Island State Veterans Home to improve its physical plant and provide a safe environment for the frail, elderly veterans we serve. We are truly grateful to Senator Flanagan for his unwavering support and steadfast commitment to our aging veterans," said Fred S. Sganga, Executive Director of the Long Island State Veterans Home.  "Senator Flanagan has always been there for us with New York State matching funds.  Through his efforts, the Veterans Home has been able to secure almost $17 million in Federal and State funding over the past eight years.”

"Our veterans deserve the best care possible as a thank you for all they have done for our country.  This funding will provide them with the best care and the best facilities possible and they deserve nothing less," stated Senator Flanagan, a member of the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs.  "The Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook is an important part of our community and I am proud to be able to assist them with their important work."

"As a nation, we owe a debt of gratitude to our veterans and their service that we can never repay," Congressman Bishop said.  "Securing this funding for the Long Island State Veterans Home is a small way of improving their quality of life and saying 'thank you.'”