Congressman Hoyer Delivers Remarks at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home 25th Anniversary
CHARLOTTE HALL, MD – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) joined residents and staff of the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home to celebrate their 25th anniversary. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:
“Today as we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Charlotte Hall with a theme of ‘Serving those who Served’, let me, too, join in remembering those who have sacrificed their lives on behalf of our country in the name of freedom and democracy. The debt owed to them is immeasurable. Their sacrifices and those of their families are freedom’s foundation. Without the brave efforts of all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen and their families, our country would not live so freely.
“While combat troops are coming home from Iraq, we continue to be engaged in hostilities in Iraq and Afghanistan, and young men and women will pay the ultimate price while wearing the uniform of our nation. Let us honor the memory of the 4,400 Americans who have died in Iraq and more than 1,000 who have died in Afghanistan. We also honor the sacrifices of our wounded: nearly 32,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and 5,700 in Afghanistan.
“As we remember their patriotic sacrifices, we renew our commitment to keep our promises to the nation’s 3 million troops and reservists, their families, and 23 million veterans. The 476,202 veterans of Maryland, and particularly those who live here at Charlotte Hall must know that we are committed to providing them with a quality of life, quality care, and quality services.
“With the strong support of veterans service organizations, this Congress has made an unprecedented commitment to veterans’ health care. The veterans budget, hailed as a ‘cause for celebration,’ provides the largest funding increase for health care and other services ever requested by a President.
“Through fiscal year 2010, we have increased the investment in veterans’ health care and services by 60 percent since January 2007 – adding $23 billion to the VA budget baseline over the last 3 years, including the largest single increase in the 78-year history of the VA. For the first time, Congress wrote and approved two budgets; the first for fiscal year 2010 and the second for fiscal year 2011. Congress enacted a law guaranteeing timely and predictable funding for veterans’ health care, a key priority of many veterans’ groups and provided advance appropriations of $48 billion for veterans’ medical care for 2011.
“In partnership with the Tri-County Council of Southern Maryland Veteran’s Regional Advisory Committee, I am working to assure that all of the eligible veterans in the area have fuller access to a larger breadth of services here at our Community Based Outpatient Clinic. It is critical that we have quality health care not just for those who have served in the past but also those veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan in need of care. We are working to expand mental health screening and treatment and care for the signature injuries of the war, PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury.
“In addition, we have passed several other pieces of legislation to meet the needs of our veterans – the G.I. Bill for the 21st Century to assist in the cost of a college education; an updated VA Home Loan program; legislation to strengthen the support systems of veteran caregivers including access to training, counseling and 24 hour respite care; expanded veteran homeless prevention care; and better care for women veterans.
“Charlotte Hall has evolved over the years to meet the changing needs of our veteran population. As one of the few long term care facilities in the country to have a physician on site five days a week, it provides services to enhance the physical health of its residents while creating a family atmosphere that makes this a warm, friendly place for our loved ones to maintain their personal dignity and live their lives to the fullest.
“On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind. This day and every day, let us honor their service with actions that fulfill our commitment to our troops, their families, and our veterans – and that are worthy of our grateful nation.
“Congratulations to all who have brought Charlotte Hall successfully through these first 25 years and let’s work together to continue to steadfastly ‘serve those who served.’”
Charlotte Hall Veterans Home is a program of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) and provides an assisted living and long-term care facility for Maryland Veterans and eligible spouses who are unable to take care of themselves due to age or disability. The facility provides support and services required for shelter, sustenance, medical care, and social services necessary to maintain residents’ medical conditions and qualities of life. When practicable, the facility aims to improve residents’ medical conditions with the goal of restoring independence and a return to the community.
For more information on Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, click here.
###