OLYMPIA – State Representative Kristine Reeves (D-Federal Way) has been appointed to a committee to study military and veterans’ issues that makes recommendations to the Legislature for changes to state law. The Joint Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs includes sixteen members and Reeves represents one of four Democrats from the state House.
Reeves’ appointment comes after spending the 2017 Legislative Session focused on improving the transition from military to civilian life for service members. The highlight of her work this year is the Wounded Warrior Shared Leave Act, which creates a shared leave pool for military service members, veterans, and their spouses to access during the traditional probation period for newly hired state employees.
Her bipartisan effort included reaching across the aisle to ensure peer-to-peer mental health services for veterans was included in the final operating budget.
Other legislation introduced by Reeves include a new law to protect the privacy of Gold Star family members and a bill that would create a pilot program to connect veterans to federal earned services in rural and remote communities.
“The work of serving our military service members and veterans doesn’t stop when the legislative session ends,” said Reeves. “I look forward to continuing to advocate for our military families and working with my colleagues to identify ways we can help our veterans.”
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