TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – “Governor Scott is a Navy veteran, and his recommended Florida Families First Budget strengthens our ability to advocate with purpose and passion for his fellow Florida veterans and link them to superior services, benefits and support,” said Mike Prendergast, executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA). “With the Governor’s desire to increase outreach and services to our 1.6 million veterans, the Sunshine State continues to be the most veteran-friendly state in the nation.”
The Governor’s recommended FDVA Budget includes a $4.4 million enhancement over the current year’s budget, bringing the total to $88.8 million; the majority of which is funded through existing Trust Funds. Included in the broad range of additional budget items, the new funding will enhance the department’s outreach efforts which will help draw more federal VA dollars into the state. Furthermore, the additional funding will provide much-needed replacement vehicles to transport State Veterans’ Nursing Home residents to medical appointments and other outings.
FDVA is the premier point of entry for Florida veterans to access earned services, benefits and support. The state agency is responsible for assisting, without charge, Florida’s veterans, their families and survivors in improving their health and economic well-being through high quality benefit information, advocacy, education and long-term health care.
Florida’s veteran population is the third largest in the nation, and FDVA plays a critical role in advocating for veterans and connecting them to earned federal and state benefits and services.
For more information on FDVA, visit www.FloridaVets.org.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING…
Florida Veterans Foundation
“Florida’s veteran community will be well served by this budget recommendation,” said John Haynes, chairman and CEO of the Florida Veterans Foundation. “The Governor, as a Navy veteran, continues to focus on improving the quality of life for our state’s veterans.”
Florida Veterans Council
“Florida’s congressionally chartered veteran service organizations partner with FDVA on many vital issues impacting our veterans,” said Paul Martel, chairman of the Florida Veterans Council. “This budget expands outreach to help provide earned benefits and services to Florida’s veteran community.”
Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Florida Council of Chapters
“We applaud the additional investment in providing high-quality care and services to Florida’s veterans through this budget recommendation,” said Jim Conner, president of Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Florida Council of Chapters. “With this recommendation, FDVA will continue to provide exemplary service in very challenging times to our veterans and their families.”
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