Rep. Val Hoyle urges full funding for Roseburg veterans home to serve rural veterans

Representative Val Hoyle told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies on Member ay that the Roseburg veterans home in Douglas County is ready to be built and asked the subcommittee to fully fund the project in the FY2027 appropriations process.

Hoyle said Oregon has set aside a $35 million state match for the Roseburg project and that the site includes about 13.4 acres that could house 134 veterans. She told the panel that the state home construction grants backlog exceeds $1 billion and that VA grants typically cover roughly 65% of construction costs, arguing that delaying the project will increase costs and leave rural veterans without local end-of-life and memory-care options.

"These are not — this isn't charity," Hoyle said, arguing that veterans "earned these benefits." She said the nearest alternatives with capacity are in Eugene (about 2 to 2.5 hours away) and Portland (about 4 to 4.5 hours away), which creates access challenges for families in Douglas County and other rural communities.

Hoyle described the project as bipartisan and noted local leaders, including Representative Cliff Bentz, support it. Committee members asked clarifying questions about capacity, location and where the project stands on the priority list; Hoyle said the project is class-A priority locally but lacks federal dollars to proceed.

The committee did not take a vote; the chair said members would "do our very best to try to accommodate you." The Roseburg funding request will be considered as the subcommittee drafts FY2027 report language and funding allocations.