NJ lawmakers push bills to protect military bases and expand veteran care access

by
August 2, 2025

Two Republican lawmakers from New Jersey’s 8th Legislative District are calling for swift passage of proposed legislation aimed at safeguarding military bases and improving services for veterans and personnel stationed there.

Senator Latham Tiver and Assemblyman Michael Torrissi have introduced SR86 and A721, measures focused on enhancing support for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Burlington County and Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County.

SR86 urges the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to open an inpatient hospital at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Lawmakers cited that more than 119,000 veterans reside in South Jersey with no local inpatient VA hospital, forcing many to travel long distances for medical care.

Torrissi’s bill, A721, calls for restoring annual funding for a state advocate who would represent New Jersey’s interests at the federal level. This role would focus on lobbying against potential base realignment and closure actions that could jeopardize key military installations and the regional economies they support.

The proposals come as Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst has faced scrutiny due to its role in recent federal immigration policy enforcement. Tiver, who serves on the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, said the controversy underscores the need to reinvest in base infrastructure and services for those stationed there.

Picatinny Arsenal, another major New Jersey military site, has also been flagged in discussions about future Department of Defense realignment strategies, raising concerns about job losses and economic impact.

Both lawmakers emphasized the strategic and economic importance of preserving New Jersey’s military presence and improving support for its service members and veterans.

Key Points

  • Sen. Tiver and Asm. Torrissi are backing bills to expand VA healthcare in South Jersey and fund advocacy against base closures
  • One bill urges creation of a VA inpatient hospital at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
  • Another bill would reinstate annual funding for a state-level federal base advocate to prevent realignment and closure
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