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The Iowa House of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution this week in support of the establishment of a veteran’s national recovery center at the former Veterans Affairs Hospital in Knoxville. The resolution is authored by Representatives Royd Chambers of House District 5 and Jerry Kearns of District 92.

Representative Chambers tells KNIA/KRLS news the resolution stems from the Iowa Commission of Veteran’s Affairs who brought the request to him and Representative Kearns. Chambers says members of the House VA committee felt it was appropriate to support the commission’s request in honor of Veteran’s day on the Hill when hundreds of veterans come to the capitol. He says the resolution was “simply an expression of support for the Commission’s extremely worthy efforts and will be forward to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, as well as be included in the Commission’s proposal.”

When asked about whether he and Kearns contacted members of the Knoxville community to see if this proposal had the support of residents and city officials Chambers said “The resolution was intended to express support for the needs of veterans, not any particular community.”

We also asked him if he was aware of the at least two other proposals that are being submitted for use of the campus in which he replied “I was made aware of two other proposals being prepared but have no information about them.”

Chambers says a project like this can be a multi-year process, but it’s great that multiple groups want to make sure the Knoxville facility is appropriately utilized.

The resolution now moves to the Iowa Senate and upon approval will be sent immediately to Secretary Shinseki.

To read the resolution CLICK HERE.