Committee releases Vincent Solomayno nomination for Veterans Affairs after hearing on homes, consent decree and homelessness programs

Vincent Solomayno, the nominee to head New Jersey’s newly elevated Department of Veterans Affairs, told senators Feb. 19 he intends to “sustain the progress of recent years” and press for continued improvements in care at state veterans homes.

Solomayno highlighted recent upgrades and cited that Paramus, Menlo Park and Vineland veterans homes have improved CMS ratings and now meet 5‑star metrics. He credited legislative reforms, higher wage classification for CNAs and investments that boosted staffing and quality measures, and said work remains on modernization projects that are waiting for federal matching funds from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ State Home Grant Construction Program.

Committee members questioned Solomayno about the federal consent decree and independent monitoring that followed pandemic‑era failures. He said the department has a constructive relationship with the independent monitor (the Hibiscus Group), that unscheduled surveys and QAPI processes are active, and that milestones for the consent decree remain a work in progress.

Solomayno described state programs to tackle veteran homelessness, including the "bringing veterans home" initiative that he said permanently housed more than 1,800 veterans since Jan. 1, 2025, and stressed peer‑support services and no‑cost counseling as part of suicide‑prevention work. He invited committee members to tour facilities and affirmed an operational focus on quality and accountability.

The committee completed a roll call and released Solomayno’s nomination to the floor for final consideration.