FARGO, N.D. — The Fargo Veterans Affairs Health Care System will get $8.5 million in federal funding in fiscal year 2013 to expand mental health services to Fargo-area veterans.

North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar made the announcement Wednesday after touring the Fargo VA Medical Center’s mental health care unit.

Hoeven said the latest generation of veterans has faced much in the long war on terror. He says some veterans have been deployed four or more times in the more than 10 years the country has been at war.

The VA Medical Center offers services for 89,000 veterans in North Dakota, northeast South Dakota and northwest Minnesota.