Legislature sends veterans’ relief bill to governor’s desk

March 31, 2009

OLYMPIA – The Legislature today approved a bill to expand veterans’ relief opportunities, sending the measure to the governor’s desk for final approval. First approved unanimously by the House on Jan. 26, House Bill 1049 this morning passed out of the Senate unanimously as well.
 
The bill, introduced by Rep. Christine Rolfes (D-Bainbridge Island), expands the definition of what a “veteran” is to include current members of the National Guard and Armed Forces Reserves who have been deployed to serve in an armed conflict. These veterans and their families would then be eligible for the veteran relief programs that all counties administer, both during their deployment and upon their return. Backers say this may turn out to be especially important to service members now returning from Iraq whose employer or position may have disappeared amidst the current economic downturn.
 
“This is great news. Now we’ll be able to assist those in the lower ranks who are called up and impacted by the loss of their civilian pay,” said Leif Bentsen, the Kitsap County Veterans Assistance Program coordinator.
 
Rolfes congratulated a local stakeholder group she worked closely with to sponsor the bill this legislative session.
 
“This is a major victory for the Kitsap County Veterans Advisory Board and all the board members who work so hard to serve our community,” Rolfes said. “Their initiative and direct involvement played a huge part in advancing this important bill.”
 
“This bill is really directed at getting resources to people who need it,” said Sen. Derek Kilmer (D-Gig Harbor), the legislation’s sponsor in the Senate. “It gets at two basic values: one, that if you serve your country we should have your back and you shouldn’t have to suffer financially because of it and two, we believe in empowering local government to put resources where there’s the greatest need.”
 
Lawmakers expect the governor to sign the measure into law within the next two weeks.
 
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For interviews: Rep. Christine Rolfes, 360.786.8742
For more information: Lucas Dressel, 360.786.7697