Bristol town and veterans officials welcomed Sen. Jack Reed for a tour of the Bristol Veterans Council’s new space on the first floor of the Burnside Building, adjacent to the Veterans Memorial Garden. Describing the work done to this space, Town Administrator Steven Contente noted the refinished hardwood floors that were “found” under many layers of added flooring, and the high ceilings that were revealed — and revealed the tops of the stained glass windows — when the drop ceilings were removed. “I know the veterans will make good use of this space,” Mr. Contente said.

Sen. Reed was in town following an appearance at the Rhode Island Veterans Home, along with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Gov. Dan McKee, and Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services Director Kasim Yarn, to announce a new $840,000 federal grant. This federal aid stems from a $100 million emergency payment to state veteran homes nationwide that Senators Reed and Whitehouse supported in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, which was signed into law in December.

“The funding will go to a wide range of expenses, from PPE to staffing needs,” said Sen. Reed. The federal funds may also be used for things like cleaning services and other investments designed to enhance health, safety and well-being of residents. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will issue guidelines on how the federal funds may be used.

More help is on the way for the Rhode Island Veterans Home and veterans across the state as a result of the American Rescue Plan. The new law directs $17 billion in federal funding to help the VA support veterans, including $14.5 billion for veterans’ COVID-19-related health care. It also sets aside a total of $750 million for state veteran homes around the country, including $500 million for construction and $250 million for direct payments. That funding will be awarded to states at a later date, but Senators Reed and Whitehouse estimate the Rhode Island Veterans Home should receive about $2 million from this next round.

“We must support and protect our veterans and their caregivers. They have sacrificed so much for us, and we owe it to them to provide the services and care they need,” said Sen. Reed. “This $840,000 is a down payment that will help keep residents and staff safe from COVID-19, while providing continued access to a comfortable home setting and skilled medical care.”