Plans to rebuild or renovate three veterans homes in Idaho were cruising along — until an unexpected roadblock appeared.
The Idaho Division of Veterans Services applied for a grant from the U.S. Veterans Administration, or VA, in 2019, for some funding toward building a new veterans home in Boise, and was conditionally approved, pending additional construction planning. Idaho also received conditional approval to remodel two new veterans homes, one in Lewiston, and one in Pocatello, approved in February and March 2022, respectively.
But now, the VA is saying that all of Idaho’s projects must comply with the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA), passed as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure law, which took effect in May 2022. The law requires construction of government buildings to use materials sourced from U.S. manufacturers and supply chains.
Despite agreeing with the spirit of the law, Idaho leaders are sounding the alarm, saying they were assured for months by VA leaders in Washington, D.C., that the projects would receive waivers, meaning they would be exempt from complying with the law. They are concerned that the requirement negates the project planning and cost already done for the Boise facility and will significantly expand its cost and construction timeline.