Hoeven Standing Up for ND Veterans

HOEVEN, LEGISLATORS TOUR N.D. VETERANS HOME IN LISBON

Governor, Lawmakers Outline Funding Plan for New Facility

BISMARCK, N.D. –Gov. John Hoeven and state legislators today toured the N.D. Veterans Home and met with administrators and residents to discuss plans and funding for a new veterans facility in Lisbon.

Joining Hoeven for the tour and meeting were Sen. Bill Bowman; Sen. Ralph Kilzer; Minority Leader Dave O’Connell; Sen. Larry Robinson; Rep. Duane DeKrey; and Rep. Ralph Metcalf. Also in attendance were members of the North Dakota Veterans Home Governing Board: Brad Maasjo; Darrel Schroeder; and Norris Brattan.

Hoeven told administrators and residents that he’s working with the Legislature to secure $6.5 million in state funding for a new Veterans Home in Lisbon. This would meet North Dakota’s 35 percent match for a cost-sharing grant through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which will provide federal funding to help construct a new, 121 unit residential veterans’ facility.

If approved, the Department of Veterans Affairs will assume the remaining 65 percent of the cost, as well as 65 percent of the cost to make improvements Hoeven is recommending for the current facility. The Governor is recommending an additional $166,000 be added to the 2007-2009 budget to address upgrades identified by the Health Department and State Fire Marshall.

Bill Goetz, the Governor’s chief of staff, testified last week before the state Senate Appropriations subcommittee on veterans affairs in favor of an amendment to the home’s budget that would provide a contingency appropriation for the state’s share, pending the federal agency’s approval of the grant application. Hoeven’s office last week also spoke with the chief of the Veterans Administration’s State Home Construction Program, Steve Salvas, who spoke positively about the project, Hoeven said.

“We have a great opportunity to support both current and future generations of North Dakota veterans in a very real and meaningful way,” Hoeven said. “This is another way to say thank you to those who have sacrificed so much for our state and our nation.”


The North Dakota Veterans Home is located on a 90 acre tract of land outside Lisbon. The home provides care and services to needy veterans and their spouses.

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