Veterans Affairs Secretary Shulkin Met with Veterans, Tour Facilities, & Help Celebrate Cornerstone Laying Milestone at the New Veterans Home

PROVIDENCE, RI –On Friday, May 5, U.S. Senator Jack Reed joined the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr. David Shulkin in Rhode Island for a series of meetings and events. Secretary Shulkin is the first member of President Donald Trump’s cabinet to visit Rhode Island this year. Prior to becoming VA Secretary, Dr. Shulkin served as the VA’s top health official under President Obama.

Early afternoon Senator Reed and Secretary Shulkin were joined by Governor Gina Raimondo, Senator Whitehouse, Congressman Cicilline, Congressman Langevin and General Treasurer at a cornerstone-laying ceremony for the new Rhode Island Veterans Home on Metacom Avenue in Bristol. The new, state-of-the-art, 208-bed, 110-acre complex on Mount Hope Bay will open this fall. The building will provide quality nursing and residential care to Rhode Island war veterans.  Before the ceremony Senator Reed and Secretary Shulkin first met the veterans at the older building, where they had a roundtable discussion.

A senior member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction & Veterans Affairs (Milcon-VA), Senator Reed helped deliver $60.5 million in federal funds to contribute to the $121 million construction project, which began in 2015.