Veterans First Act
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Sen. Tommy Tuberville
Monthly column by Sen. Tommy Tuberville
It has been three months since President Trump has entered the White House. In less than 100 days, President Trump and his administration have already identified more than $155 billion in government waste, fraud and abuse that has gone unchecked for decades.
One of the most shocking discoveries to-date has been the corruption within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Biden administration. Thanks to the great work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the American public became aware of some of the outrageous projects USAID was bankrolling under President Biden.
From research in Wuhan to transgender operas in Columbia to Sesame Street in Iraq, USAID was essentially a Democratic slush fund. The extent of the waste at USAID has millions of Americans wondering – why has the government been wasting our taxpayer dollars instead of doing basic things like taking care of our veterans?
This led me to introduce the Veterans First Act with my friend, Sen. Mike Lee from Utah. Our bill would take the funds that have been wasted at USAID and instead redirect them to make improvements to veterans’ homes.
The VA State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program is a partnership between the VA and states to ensure our veterans have a safe place to call home. Sadly, many of our very own veterans are living in horrible conditions in State Veterans’ Homes that are breaking down by the minute. Funding constraints can cause years of delays for homes that are just waiting to receive federal funds for outstanding repairs.
Thankfully, our bill addresses this housing crisis head on and redirects $2 billion former-USAID dollars toward State Veteran Home repairs and renovations. As the son of a veteran myself, if my dad was living in a home that needed renovation, I would drop everything in order to ensure he had a safe place to call home. This money would go a long way towards helping Alabama’s more than 400,000 veterans.
Fighting for Alabama’s veterans has been a top priority for me since coming to the Swamp four years ago. Since President Trump’s arrival back to the Capitol, I have already led several efforts to support veterans this Congress.
The ACCESS Act and the Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act work to streamline options for Community Care within the VA system. The HBOT Access Act opens up treatment options to vets who have suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and the Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act makes it easier for vets with disabilities to be made financially whole. This bill is just the next step in making sure our veterans are taken care of.
I’m proud of this bill and hope to see it pass on a bipartisan basis. After all, taking care of those who have bravely served our country isn’t a political issue.
This commonsense bill would make sure taxpayer dollars are put to good use, not wasted on left-wing programs. Our veteran heroes were willing to lay down their lives for our freedom. The least we can do is make sure they have a decent place to call home.
