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Idaho’s veterans fought and sacrificed to protect our freedoms. While we can never fully repay the debt we owe them, we must do everything in our power to support them and honor their service.
Many veterans and military families face serious obstacles to receiving their hard-earned benefits and resources. Bureaucratic inefficiencies, exacerbated under the Biden administration, stalled vital projects, including modernization efforts for state veterans’ homes in Boise, Pocatello, and Lewiston. These facilities provide essential healthcare and housing for veterans in need, yet years of meticulous planning were derailed by red tape.
The Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA), enacted in 2022, required federal building projects to use only U.S.-made materials. I supported the bill, which aimed to create jobs and bolster American businesses. However, supply chains are unforgiving.
Recognizing this, the BABAA included a commonsense waiver process to protect pre-existing projects from being unfairly impacted when products are not available domestically.
Initially, the Biden administration assured me that waivers would be granted for veterans’ homes. However, when the time came, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) failed to deliver. The result: dozens of essential modernization projects, including improvements to the veterans’ home in Boise, ground to a screeching halt.
Despite my repeated efforts, including introducing the WAIVER Act to fix these bureaucratic failures, Biden’s VA was immovable.
It selectively applied red tape, allowing projects in predominantly Democrat- led states like Pennsylvania and Massachusetts to proceed while leaving veterans in states like Idaho out to dry.
That all changed when I met with President Trump’s VA Secretary nominee Doug Collins last December. I made it clear: we must eliminate the bureaucratic barriers unjustly denying Idaho’s veterans their hardearned benefits and care. In February, Secretary Collins called me personally with the good news—the Boise State Veterans Home would receive a waiver. After two years of needless delays, the project will finally break ground in October.
I am proud to have worked with Secretary Collins to see that these critical modernization projects move forward for Idaho’s veterans. These brave men and women risked everything for our freedoms; they should never have to fight for our support. Whether it’s retirement pay, disability compensation, or education benefits, these are commitments our nation made to those who stepped up to serve.
In Congress, I am dedicated to ensuring that the federal government honors its obligations to veterans. I’ve introduced legislation to streamline benefits processing, reduce backlogs, and strengthen oversight. This includes the Major Richard Star Act, to allow combat-wounded veterans to receive their disability and retirement benefits concurrently, and the Restore VA Accountability Act, to address misconduct within the VA and improve the quality of federal services.
Too often, I hear from Idaho veterans struggling to access the federal programs created to support them. Each year, my staff assists hundreds of Idahoans in cutting through red tape, solving problems, and finding answers to their questions about federal matters. If you or a veteran you know is experiencing challenges with a federal program, my office stands ready to help. Call or visit risch.senate.gov for assistance.
There is more work to do. I am committed to strengthening the resources available to Idaho’s veterans and military families and to honoring our fallen heroes.
Our nation has a moral and legal obligation to care for our veterans, and I am working every day to make sure these brave men and women receive nothing less than the support they rightfully deserve.
U.S. SENATOR JIM RISCH REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE OF IDAHO IN THE SENATE.
