{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://fulcher.house.gov/2024/03/06/id-1b6a52e1-8863-4339-a2ce-ba1d566a32fe/", "PRESS RELEASE \u2013 Congressman Fulcher and Senator Risch Lead Legislation to Support Idaho State Veterans Homes.", "2024-03-06", "2024", "2024-03", "Republican", "House", "ID", "Russ Fulcher", "F000469", "fulcher.house.gov", "fulcher", "https://fulcher.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, March 6\n\nCONTACT: Marisa Melton, (208) 743 \u2013 1388, marisa.melton@mail.house.gov\n\nCongressman Fulcher and Senator Risch Lead Legislation to Support Idaho State Veterans Homes.\n\nWASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher and Senator Jim Risch introduced the Waiving Arbitrary and Inconsistent Veteran Home Requirements (WAIVER) Act this week to require the U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) to provide already approved state home projects a waiver from certain requirements in the Build America, Buy America Act (BABBA).\n\nIn 2019, the Idaho Division of Veterans Services was approved for a grant by the VA to build a new veterans home in Boise. Then, in 2022, they received conditional approval to remodel veterans homes located in Lewiston, and Pocatello.\n\nWhen the BABBA was enacted in 2022, Congress was assured previously approved state projects, such as the ones in Idaho, would receive a waiver from compliance standards requiring the construction of government buildings to use materials sourced from U.S. supply chains and manufacturers.\n\nNow that the VA is walking back those claims, the WAIVER Act would allow these projects to be grandfathered in.\n\n\u201cThe VA needs to stop playing politics with Idaho\u2019s heroes,\u201d Congressman Fulcher said. \u201cThe VA promised Idaho a waiver to build and remodel these homes, and I intend to make them keep their word.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s veterans have waited far too long for updated facilities in Idaho and around the country. Due to the VA Secretary choosing to selectively apply requirements, veterans will wait longer and it will cost taxpayers more money for needed facility updates,\u201d said Senator Risch. \u201cThe WAIVER Act will push the VA to be consistent with other agencies, advance American manufacturing and production in the best way possible, protect taxpayer dollars, and enable state veterans\u2019 homes to move forward with important, planned projects to help America\u2019s veterans.\u201d\n\n\u201cBiden\u2019s VA is playing political games with our veterans, and Idaho\u2019s leaders are lockstep in pushing back. It is unacceptable that help for our veterans is in peril because of bureaucracy. This is a classic example of the federal government moving the goalposts midgame. The State of Idaho is living up to our end of the deal but the feds aren\u2019t, and veterans are the ones who will suffer,\u201d Governor Brad Little said. \u201cI appreciate Congressman Russ Fulcher and Senator Jim Risch for taking steps to slash the red tape at the VA so construction and renovation on our veterans homes in Boise, Lewiston, and Pocatello can move forward as planned.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe VA in Washington, D.C., keeps changing their story and pulling the rug out from under the states,\u201d Idaho Division of Veterans Services Administrator Mark Tschampl said. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just an Idaho issue, either. Dozens of facilities for veterans in other states are on the line, too, because the VA won\u2019t issue the waivers for our projects, which were approved for funding before the passage of this new law. Thank you to Idaho\u2019s leaders for stepping up to find a solution for our veterans who fought for our country and deserve better. Veterans should never have to pay the price of political motives.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T20:32:04Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://fulcher.house.gov/2024/03/06/id-1b6a52e1-8863-4339-a2ce-ba1d566a32fe/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9652860462665558, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}