NEW JERSEY – Assemblywoman Aura Dunn’s bill appropriating $500,000 to a North Jersey veterans group was passed by a committee Thursday – an action separate from current budget negotiations, but still in contrast to Gov. Phil Murphy’s fiscal year 2025 spending proposal.
“From housing to health care, New Jersey veterans need more support, not less,” Dunn (R-Morris) said. “It’s critical that New Jersey’s government steps up, just as our veterans did so selflessly for this state and nation. Cutting funding to the state department overseeing services for hundreds of thousands of veterans is baffling, but luckily there are amazing community organizations that fill in the gaps.”
The proposed fiscal year 2025 budget for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is $121.3 million, a decrease of $4 million from the 2024 adjusted appropriation.
Dunn’s bill (A3175) funds the work of the New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group, a coalition of individuals and organizations based in northern New Jersey that helps local veterans experiencing homelessness, unemployment, mental health issues and more.
“I am proud to back up my commitment to New Jersey veterans by ensuring they get the funding they have earned,” Dunn said.
New Jersey is home to about 338,000 veterans according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
