Letter: State legislature remains committed to veterans

Posted 8/1/15

To the editor:

The 2015 legislative session was another meaningful year for our state’s veterans and I am very proud of the bills passed to honor their noble sacrifices. My colleagues in the Senate and the House worked cooperatively in …

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Letter: State legislature remains committed to veterans

Posted

To the editor:

The 2015 legislative session was another meaningful year for our state’s veterans and I am very proud of the bills passed to honor their noble sacrifices. My colleagues in the Senate and the House worked cooperatively in the passage of these important bills, especially House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jan P. Malik.

Among the new laws enacted this session are:

Enhanced Housing Access & Discrimination Protection (Sponsored by Sen. Felag/ Rep. Malik): Ensuring that military status cannot be used as a reason to prevent an individual from renting or buying a residence, this legislation protects veterans who have an honorable or general administrative discharge as a member of the United States Armed Forces and the Rhode Island National Guard.

Housing Assistance (Sen. Juan M. Pichardo/ Rep. Malik): Central to the Senate’s goal of ending homelessness among veterans in 2015, this law gives veterans priority for housing rental subsidies and housing retention assistance under the Rhode Island Housing Resource Act.

Educational Assistance (Sen. Maryellen Goodwin/ Rep. Marvin L. Abney): This allows qualifying veterans, their spouses and children under 25 years old to pay resident tuition at state colleges upon filing a letter of intent to reside in the state.  This change helps eliminate one educational roadblock that stands in the way for frequently relocating service members and their families.

Easier Access to Veterans’ Discounts (Sen. Felag/Rep. Raymond A. Hull): This legislation requires Rhode Island retail establishments that offer a veterans’ discount to honor the Rhode Island driver’s license designation as proof of military service.  Receiving these discounts can be cumbersome without the proper credentials and this law makes it easier for veterans to participate in these programs.

Enhanced Veterans Home Allowance (Sen. Pichardo/ Rep. Samuel A. Azzinaro):  An additional piece of legislation increases the funeral allowance for a veteran who dies at the Veterans Home from $5,000 to $10,000, lessening the financial burden for a deceased veteran’s family.

Continued Recognition of Purple Heart Service for Awardees’ Families (Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski/ Rep. Kathleen A. Fogarty): This legislation entitles a surviving relative to receive the Purple Heart license plate for keepsake after the death of the Purple Heart recipient. The recipient’s surviving family members can now carry on their dearly departed’s legacy.

We all owe an extraordinary debt to those who have served in our nation’s military. On behalf of all Rhode Islanders, I want to express our sincere appreciation to all veterans who have served our country with courage, dedication and honor and this new legislation is one way to show our appreciation. Please contact me at (sen-felag@rilin.state.ri.us) with any new ideas for veteran legislation.

Walter S. Flag Jr.

State senator from District 10 — Warren, Bristol, Tiverton.

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