Each November 11 our country comes together to remember our veterans who have served and sacrificed in the name of freedom. The debt owed to them is immeasurable. Their sacrifices and those of our military families are freedom’s foundation. Indeed, without the brave efforts of all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and their families, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so brightly, and live so freely.
Veterans Day is a day of remembrance and rededication. We pause to remember the noble service and high sacrifices of those who have worn this nation’s uniform. And we rededicate ourselves, in the words of President Lincoln, “to care for him who shall have borne the battle.”
Almost one-fourth of the members of the House of Representatives are veterans of the Armed Services, and we are proud of their service, so it was important to us to send out a special newsletter to our constituents to honor Veteran’s Day. To see a list of House members who have served in the military, please visit the following link: http://www.ncleg.net/DocumentSites/HouseDocuments/2009-2010%20Session/2009%20House%20Members%20Military%20Exprience.pdf)
The following information highlights significant legislation passed this year pertaining to veterans living in North Carolina.
If you have any questions or if I can be of assistance, please feel free to contact me. Thank you as always for your interest in the work of the General Assembly and state government and thank you for your support.
Veterans
_This year’s budget stipulates that a portion of the $250,000 Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant be used to study the availability of Medicaid and state-funded mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services to active duty, reserve, and veteran members of the military and National Guard. More specifically, the budget directs the NC Institute of Medicine to study how the state should address post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse amongst our returning war veterans and their families. The study will discuss the current availability of services, the extent of use, and any gaps in services.
_We have passed a new law regarding unemployment insurance compensation for certain severely disabled veterans who have been discharged due to a service-connected disability (H.B. 1124 - S.L. 2009-101). Severely injured veterans will now receive unemployment benefits if they lose their job because of a disability incurred or aggravated during active military service or because of the veteran’s absence from work to obtain care and treatment for that disability.
_A new state law directs the state’s many occupational licensing boards (doctors, cosmetologists, real estate agents, plumbers, lawyers, electricians, nurses, and man, many more) to implement procedures to help deployed licensees waive or delay payment of fees and continuing education requirements (H.B. 1411 - S.L. 2009-458).This new law will help reservists who are sent off to war to keep from losing the licenses they need to keep their civilian job.
_Uniformed public safety officers will now be authorized to wear military service medals during the business week prior to Veterans Day and Memorial Day, the day of Veterans Day and Memorial Day, and the business day immediately following Veterans Day and Memorial Day under a new state law (H.B. 631 - S.L. 2009-240). Employers will maintain the right to prohibit the wearing of service medals if it’s determined they pose a safety hazard to the officer or to the public.
Notes
_On June 11, 2009, Speaker Hackney signed a statement of support for employees serving in the Guard and Reserve. Over 20 state representatives joined in the signing ceremony, which took place at the North Carolina Legislature Building.
_Members of the General Assembly honored the life and memory of the fallen soldiers who served our great nation in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan with a House Joint Resolution (HJR 1652 - Res. 2009-30). In the resolution, the General Assembly expressed profound gratitude to the North Carolinians who were killed in the line of duty during these military operations. Each North Carolinian who was killed in the line of duty while carrying out these operations is named in the resolution. Several family members of our fallen heroes were in attendance when we passed the Resolution.
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Prepared with the assistance of the Speaker’s Office of Communications
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Regular Reports On What Is Happening In the NC General Assembly of Interest to citizens in District 51 by Representative Jimmy Love
