U.S. Rep. Ross Spano, R-Fla., had kind words as the U.S. House Appropriations Committee advanced the “FY20 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill” which is now headed to the House floor.
Spano applauded the bill for including almost $9.5 billion for mental health services, almost $222 million for suicide prevention outreach and almost $1.9 billon for the VA to help homeless veterans.
“Our active service members and veterans are such an integral part of Florida’s 15th District and making sure they have the resources they need is one of my highest priorities,” Spano said on Wednesday. “I was proud to request and receive funding for vital mental health and housing services that our veterans deserve.”
Spano insisted the bill would help his district and showcased his efforts to help shape it.
“My district is adjacent to MacDill Air Force Base and a large percentage of its personnel are my constituents,” Spano said. “When I recently learned that the family housing units were in desperate need of mold remediation, I worked with the Appropriations Committee to bring attention to the substandard living conditions so that our service members and their families are treated with the same dignity and respect with which they serve.
“I also worked closely with Moffitt Cancer Center to make sure our veterans have access to the highest quality cancer care and cutting-edge clinical trials,” Spano added. “I requested and received language that directs the VA to expand ‘these efforts, especially as they relate to providing veterans access to groundbreaking new treatments through clinical trials led by academic cancer centers, as well as the linking of VA oncology care with national research databases. The committee further directs the VA to support the establishment of partnerships between VA hospitals and National Cancer Institute-designated facilities that allow for veterans to access clinical trials at VA health centers.’ ”
First elected to Congress last year, Spano represents parts of Hillsborough, Lake and Polk Counties.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
