Veterans Home, National Guard, and more
Key issues from last week's Executive Council meeting included:
FIGHTING FOR OUR VETERANS. There are approximately 90 beds closed at our New Hampshire Veterans Home, and they have been for years as a result of staffing shortages. This is unacceptable. At this week's Executive Council meeting, I raised the issue and spoke with the Commandant about finding solutions because there are nearly 60 veterans currently on the waiting list for beds. Our veterans deserve better and we must do better as a state serving them.
NATIONAL GUARD CONTINUES AT STATE PRISON. The Executive Council discussed the continuation of the National Guard in the New Hampshire State Prison for Men as their time there is set to expire in June. I asked the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections if she intended to continue their service at the facility and she was unable to answer that question yet. We are going to stay on this issue because this is not the best use of our National Guard. The solution to the problem of dramatic correctional officer vacancy rates is to pay fair wages and benefits so that we can recruit and retain the workers needed to staff our prison.
MAKING SURE FEDERAL FUNDS ARE USED PROPERLY. I spoke with the Director of the Governor's Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery and asked about the millions of dollars in federal funds remaining to use from the American Rescue Plan Act. We have these resources thanks to the hard work of the congressional delegation and we need to make sure every single dollar of federal money is spent before the deadline. For the dollars that do not get expended, I asked the Director about establishing a contingency account to ensure uncommitted money goes to use — similar to the money that was directed to the Unemployment Trust Fund from the CARES Act last year. We will stay on top of this issue to ensure we get the most out of these funds.
The full meeting agenda and quick results can be viewed here. Minutes for each meeting are approved at the following Council meeting.