SR-111, As Adopted by Senate, November 4, 2015

 

 

            Senators Knezek and O'Brien offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 111.

            A resolution to urge the U.S. Department of Defense to approve the Ambit Foundation request for use of facilities at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base to establish a Veterans Care Transition Center.

            Whereas, Michigan has one of the largest veteran populations in the nation. Over 650,000 veterans currently reside in the state; and

            Whereas, After their service is complete, all veterans still need support. Many of them are injured in the line of duty and return home to face challenges with physical and behavioral health issues. Since 2001, the Department of Veterans Affairs has diagnosed more than 200,000 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars with post-traumatic stress (PTS) or traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Many of these veterans are in need of rehabilitation services. All veterans are entitled to the best care we can give them; and

            Whereas, The Ambit Foundation plans to establish a Veterans Care Transition Center at Selfridge Air National Guard Base to serve veterans with mild to moderate TBI or PTS as they work to re-establish their capacity to live independently and participate fully in their communities. The transition center will provide housing and arrange for continuing rehabilitative care, education, job skills training, employment readiness services, and family support to veterans and their families. The Selfridge site offers a campus-like setting where services can be provided in a familiar and secure environment. Additionally, the use of unused family housing on the base will help restore and preserve a part of Michigan's heritage; and

            Whereas, The Ambit Foundation program will bring together a powerful team of Michigan organizations who serve Michigan veterans, including the Eisenhower Center, a premier provider specializing in personalized care for veterans suffering from TBI and behavioral health issues; and Zero-Day, a Lansing-based nonprofit that trains veterans in careers and helps assimilate them back into civilization. Additionally, the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and its Veteran Community Action Team will connect the program to a broad range of veteran support providers; and

            Whereas, Locating the Veterans Care Transition Center at Selfridge will allow the state and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to take a novel approach to simultaneously meet two related needs: help veterans recover and resume an active, independent role in their Michigan communities, and restore and put to productive use existing Michigan DoD facilities at no cost to Michigan or the DoD; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the U.S. Department of Defense to approve the Ambit Foundation request for use of facilities at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base to establish a Veterans Care Transition Center; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the lease office, Selfridge Air National Guard Base; the Secretary of the Department of Defense; the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs; the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency; and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.