SACRAMENTO – Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) released the following statement after the California Legislature’s proposed 2020-2021 budget rejected a proposal from the Governor to close the California Veterans Home in Barstow:
“Our veterans who fought for our freedoms deserve support and respect. I am grateful that members of both Legislative houses heard the pleas from our community and rejected the governor’s proposal to close the facility and relocate our veterans. I will continue to fight to ensure this critical facility remains open in the long-run for veterans in our community,” said Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove.
BACKGROUND:
The Governor’s May Revision proposal included the closure of this veterans home as a solution to close the gap for the state’s $54 billion budget deficit. The closure of the Barstow Veterans Home would only have initially saved the state $400,000 and displaced nearly 200 veterans who would be forced to relocate to other communities. In May, Leader Grove joined with other members of the State Legislature in delivering a letter to Governor Newsom in urging him to keep the Barstow Veterans Home. Read letter here
