Woods, Hamilton comment on ODVA’s funding request for Sallisaw Veterans Center
Sen. Tom Woods, R-Westville, and Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, released the following statement Monday after a special meeting of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission to address the status of the Sallisaw Veterans Home.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Sen. Tom Woods, R-Westville, and Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, released the following statement Monday after a special meeting of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission to address the status of the Sallisaw Veterans Home.
“The Sallisaw Veterans Home will be an incredible addition to eastern Oklahoma. I know many of our veterans would benefit from having this home in the area and having access to its resources. This center is set to be completed in fall 2024 and will then begin providing services to our state’s brave and selfless heroes. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting the Veterans Commission and the Department of Veterans Affairs as they work to complete this project,” Woods said.
“Last Wednesday’s meeting addressed the need for an additional $21 million to complete the Sallisaw Veterans Home. Construction has been affected by inflation and the initial $77 million estimate will not be enough to cover the remaining costs. Investigations are ongoing as to the budget overruns, but what is vital is that we take care of veterans like they’ve taken care of us. I am fully supportive of the efforts to get construction back on track and complete this home for our veterans,” Hamilton said.
It is now up to the Legislature to decide whether to grant the commission $10,850,000 in Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024.
