MONTPELIER, Vt. — Veterans groups are now on the list of those in line for millions of dollars’ worth of federal government surplus items — from computers to snowmobiles — given away every year.
A bill signed by President Barack Obama on Wednesday adds the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Disabled American Veterans to the list of potential recipients.
Last year, $410 million worth of surplus was given to states to distribute under the U.S. General Services Administration’s federal surplus personal property donation program.
The program funnels used-but-still-usable government equipment — including trucks, televisions and office equipment — to states and sometimes directly to the recipients. It’s not free. Typically, the receiving organizations have to pay between 6 percent and 30 percent of the value of the item to handle transportation or administrative expenses.
“Allowing veterans’ groups to participate in the federal property donation program is a valuable use of property that the taxpayers have already bought, and another way to help thank them,” said David Robbins, director of the GSA’s general office of personal property management, which oversees the program.
“It’s part of our overall theme of finding beneficial uses for property the government no longer needs. Veterans are well-deserving of being able to participate,” Robbins said.
Co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Susan Collins of Maine and Daniel Akaka of Hawaii, the measure adds the veterans organizations to a group that already includes medical institutions, organizations that support the homeless, universities and child care facilities.
The bill, dubbed the Formerly Owned Resources for Veterans to Express Thanks for Service Act, covers groups whose membership “comprises substantially veterans” to the list. The government still has to work out the terms of which veterans groups fall under it, but the VFW, American Legion and Disabled American Veterans are included, Robbins said.
“Veterans’ service organizations, like other nonprofits, could use the surplus,” said Joe Davis, a spokesman for the 1.5 million member Veterans of Foreign Wars. “As opposed to it being thrown out, it could be put to use for veterans.”
In Vermont last year, federal surplus property originally worth $618,201 was placed with public agencies or eligible nonprofits, at a cost of $28,378.
Through the years, Vermont beneficiaries have included the Health Center in Plainfield (an EKG machine, exam tables), the town of Corinth (a backhoe) and the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury (desk).
“We’re on the lookout always for federal surplus that we may be able to find a home for in Vermont,” said Ed von Turkovich, director of government services for the state Department of Buildings and Grounds. “Fire engines, snowplows, dump trucks, excavators at a fraction of the cost it would cost new, that’s what we’re trying to get.
“Whatever it is, if we can find it and somebody needs it, we want to get it,” he said.
Collins co-sponsors bill making vets groups eligible for federal surplus goods
