John Plahovinsak
On March 11, 2025, Congressman David Taylor introduced H.R. 2083 the Veterans First Act of 2025, his first legislation sponsored during the 119th Congressional Session.
H.R. 2083 would provide funding for improvements to the 160 State Veteran Homes throughout the United States. The State of Ohio administers, through the Ohio Department of Veterans Services (ODVS), State Homes in Georgetown and Sandusky.
According to the Newsweek 2024 America’s Best Nursing Homes, the Georgetown Veterans Home ranked #2 in the State of Ohio and the Sandusky Veterans Home were ranked #4.
The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) passed Resolution Number 227, to Support the State Veterans Home Program during their 2024 National Convention in Phoenix. This Resolution requested that Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide sufficient funds to support this Program.
Many State Veterans Homes are not in compliance with modern standards and need renovation and improvements. The VA has established a grant program that would offer construction grants covering over sixty-five (65%) percent of the costs for renovations.
However, due to the lack of funding and restraints, many projects wait years to receive federal funding. The VA has established a VA State Home Construction Grants Priority List for FY 2024.
There are two (2) categories in the listing – those with existing State Matching Funds (Priority List 1) and those projects needing State Matching Funds (Priority List 2). There are eighty-one (81) Priority 1 Veteran Home Projects and twenty-three (23) Priority List 2 Veteran Home Projects.
The Sandusky Veterans Home is ranked 18th on the Priority 1 Listing and the Georgetown Veterans Home is ranked 19th on the Priority 1 Listing.
The intent of H.R. 2083 is to provide sufficient funding to cover all outstanding Priority 1 VA State Home Construction grants. According to Congressman Taylor’s Office, these Priority 1 projects are only awaiting federal matching funds to start.
H.R. 2083 has been co-sponsored by Congressmen Pat Harrigan; Wesley Hunt; Nick LaLota; Bob Onder; and Tony Wied. Congressman LaLota currently sits on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, which reviews all veteran-related legislation.
LaLota is the Vice Chair of the For Country Caucus, a bipartisan group of military veterans in the U.S. House of Representatives dedicated to strengthening national security, supporting Veterans, and fostering principled leadership in Congress.
This bill has been referred to the House Committee on Appropriations for consideration and action.
American veterans are often left with State Veterans Homes in need of bed replacements, roof replacements, and nurse call system renovations, according to Congressman Taylor.
“This is unacceptable,” Congressman Tayor stated. “As we reorient our spending priorities, we must prioritize taking care of those who served our country first.”
H.R. 2083 would fund the Priority 1 Projects on the FY 2024 VA State Home Construction Grants Priority List. This pending legislation would redirect $2 billion dollars from USAID funds toward State Veteran Home repairs and renovations.
“Our veterans put America first in their service to our country, and it’s only fair that we return the favor,” concluded Congressman Taylor. “We must put America’s veterans first and reorient our Nation’s spending priorities toward where they belong!”
My Opinion: I currently serve as the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio’s Hospital Chairman, which also encompasses both Ohio State Veterans Homes.
For the last four (4) years, the DAV Department of Ohio has been passing Resolutions dealing with funding assistance for Veteran Homes. The DAV National Headquarters has approved these Resolutions and has now incorporated them within their official 2025-2026 Legislative Program.
DAV 2024-2025 National Resolution #227 requests “sufficient funds” from Congress to support the VA’s State Veterans Home Program. House Bill 2083 will provide these funds to support the Ohio Veterans Homes in Georgetown and Sandusky.
It’s time to put our disabled veterans first and Congressman Taylor’s H.R. 2083 Bill will do this! Veterans within the Second Congressional District should be honored that Congressman Taylor’s first sponsored legislative bill dealt with supporting disabled veterans!
BioSketch: John Plahovinsak is a retired 32-year Army veteran, who served from 1967 to 1999. He is the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Adjutant for Chapter #63 (Clermont County) and Past Department Commander (2019-2021) of DAV Department of Ohio. He can be reached at: plahovinsak@msn.com.
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