Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released a statement on key pieces of President Obama’s fiscal year 2016 budget request, which was released on Monday.

West LA VA Campus

“Los Angeles has more homeless veterans than any other city in the country, and we need to do more to find long-term shelter for these individuals. The West LA VA campus is a key tool to combat veteran homelessness in the region and I’m determined to see this project completed.

“The president this week requested more than $600 million for VA projects in California, to include $35 million to retrofit and renovate West LA VA’s Building 208. This building is the next step to transforming the VA campus to help house the 6,000 homeless veterans in Los Angeles. We have an obligation to help these people, and the least we can do is fund projects to help put roofs over their heads.”

California transit:

“California transit was a big winner in the president’s budget. The president’s support for a number of projects will help modernize transportation throughout the state.

“The funds for subway projects in Los Angeles and San Francisco, along with the BART expansion to San Jose and light rail project in San Diego, will create jobs and change how we move around California’s biggest cities. These projects are important to long-term health of the state and will inject much-needed energy into local economies. I look forward to supporting these projects as Congress works on its own budget and funding priorities.”

Transportation projects in the president’s budget request:

• $115 million for the Los Angeles Regional Connector.
• $115 million for the Los Angeles Purple Line Metro Phase 1.
• $100 million to Los Angeles Purple Line Metro Phase 2.
• $165 million for the San Francisco Third Street Subway.
• $165 million the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) expansion to San Jose.
• $150 million for the San Diego Mid Coast Light Rail.

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