WCBC

September 17th, 2018 by WCBC Radio

As part of the FY2019 Department of Defense Appropriations bill released last week, Congress will provide $10 million in funding for The Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit that builds houses to provide free temporary lodging near hospitals so military and veteran families can be close to their loved ones while they seek medical treatment. Since joining the House in 2013, Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) has championed Fisher House and its mission, leading the effort to raise funding from its 2012 level of $4 million per year.

In June, the House approved the bipartisan amendment authored by Congressman Delaney that increased Fisher House funding from $5 million in the base bill to $10 million. The amendment was cosponsored by Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Rep. Don Young (AK – AL), Rep. Ann Wagner (MO-2), Rep. Darren Soto (FL-9) and Rep. Peter Welch (VT – AL). Congressman Delaney has introduced a version of this amendment every year since 2013. In March, Delaney co-led a bipartisan letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense urging them to increase federal support for Fisher House.

“Each time Fisher House is able to receive more resources, military families across the country breathe a little easier and I’m glad to see my amendment carried through into the final version of the Defense bill,” said Congressman Delaney. “The bipartisan support for Fisher House is a reflection of the positive impact of their work and I will continue to do all I can to support their mission.”

“I would like to thank Congress, and especially Congressman Delaney, for their continued support of our military, veterans and their families,” said Ken Fisher, Chairman and CEO, Fisher House Foundation. “This generous appropriation will allow us to serve even more communities who need Fisher Houses.”

Founded in 1990, Fisher House has served over 335,000 families, provided over eight million days of lodging and saved military families more than $407 million in out-of-pocket expenses. On any given night, up to one thousand families are staying in one of the 76 Fisher Houses in districts all across the country. Fisher House has a four star (out of four) rating from Charity Navigator and an A+ rating from Charity Watch, and the Independent Charities Seal of Excellence. The Fisher House Foundation builds new houses, assists in the coordination of support for the homes, and donates them to the United States government. There are currently 76 Fisher Houses located on 24 military installations and 32 VA medical centers, with eight more currently under construction and locations identified for 20 more houses in the future.