As veterans and students from Pioneer Middle School in Walla Walla looked on, Sen. Mike Hewitt’s bill to establish a state soldiers’ home in Walla Walla was signed by the governor Wednesday.
“It’s been an honor to work on legislation that will support the state’s military men and women and their families,” said Hewitt, R-Walla Walla. “The new soldiers’ home will serve 10 counties with a combined population of more than 50,000 veterans and families, with nearly 40 percent age 65 or older. “Not only is there a tremendous need for this type of facility in our region, but it will also add 93 permanent jobs.”
Senate Bill 5691 authorizes the state Department of Veterans Affairs to operate the veterans’ home, which would serve as an 80-bed skilled-nursing facility providing long-term care for honorably discharged veterans, families, and Gold Star Parents – those whosechildren died while serving in the armed forces.
Once federal funds are secured for construction, the Walla Walla Veterans’ Home will join the other three state veterans’ homes in Washington – in Orting, Retsil, and Spokane.
“We want to express our appreciation to Senator Hewitt for his work on SB 5691,” said WDVA Director Alfie Alvarado Ramos. “Not only will this bill pave the way for WDVA to open Washington’s fourth State Veterans’ Home in Walla Walla, but it also makes some significant updates to our Veterans’ Homes laws. We are excited to move forward with the federal funding so that we can build this new home for 80 veterans in the Walla Walla area!”
The measure passed unanimously in the Senate and the House of Representatives during the 2014 legislative session, which ended March 13.
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