Pennsylvania DMVA Fears House Republican Budget Would Cripple Veterans Services

ANNVILLE, Pa., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a letter to chairmen of oversight committees in the House and Senate, Brig. Gen. Tony Carrelli, Pennsylvania's adjutant general, warned that cuts contained in House Bill 218 – the House Republican budget proposal – would cripple department operations and hinder the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs' ability to support programs, services and outreach for the commonwealth's 894,000 veterans and National Guard (NG) members.

"The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs' ability to serve the military and veterans' community of the commonwealth will have significant challenges with the enactment of House Bill 218," General Carrelli wrote. "By executing the House Bill 218 funding levels, DMVA estimates that we can only maintain veteran and NG support until Feb. 1, 2018, if unemployment compensation is included. After that point, we will be forced to furlough between 45-65 personnel and cease many veteran and NG programs/services."

DMVA reminded the chairmen that the department is one of Pennsylvania's top 10 employers with approximately 2,600 state employees and 20,000 NG members. In the more than 90 communities where DMVA has a presence, it accounts for $1.4 billion in economic impact to Pennsylvania.

The cuts in the House Republican budget further reduce the department's funding by 7 percent from the executive budget and level funds the Veterans Outreach Service appropriation.

Further, any state reductions will jeopardize federal funding to the commonwealth, as much of DMVA's state appropriated funding is required as a match to enable federal funding and fulfill employment agreements to fund federally funded state employees.

DMVA is urging the chairmen – big supporters of military members and veterans – to reconsider the implications of these reductions. The letters can be viewed here.

MEDIA CONTACTS: J.J. Abbott, Governor's Office, 717-783-1116
Joan Nissley, DMVA, 717-861-8720

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Related Links

http://www.dmva.state.pa.us