Bill Text: WV SCR6 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requesting Joint Committee on Government and Finance study veterans, active duty and National Guard members' issues
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-04 - To Rules [SCR6 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2014-SCR6-Introduced.html
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 6
(By Senators Wells, Yost, Boley, Edgell,
Fitzsimmons, Jenkins, Stollings, Plymale, Snyder, Laird, Miller and Cookman)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to continue studying the needs, challenges and issues facing West Virginia military veterans, West Virginia citizens serving in the armed forces of the United States, the West Virginia National Guard and other military affairs of West Virginia.
Whereas, West Virginia has a proud heritage of military service members, veterans and military family members; and
Whereas, West Virginia is home to more military service members and veterans per capita than any other state in the nation; and
Whereas, The West Virginia National Guard is continuously above service and preparedness strength, has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top forces in the country and its members are nationally renowned for their professionalism, courage and commitment to duty; and
Whereas, Military veteran homelessness, incidents of veteran suicide and diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder for veterans are all on the rise with no signs of slowing down unless additional action by the West Virginia Department of Veterans’ Assistance and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs is taken; and
Whereas, Additionally, aging veterans of previous conflicts are facing worsening problems as they enter their retirement years; and
Whereas, West Virginia has passed legislation offering in-state military veteran retirees financial benefits in an attempt to increase these veterans’ financial stability and to attract out-of- state veterans to retire to West Virginia; and
Whereas, As the state continues to make retiring in West Virginia attractive to military veterans, the overall economic development their residency provides will certainly benefit each and every West Virginian; and
Whereas, Although the retirement benefits of veterans within West Virginia are positive, additional legislative efforts can be pursued to further augment these opportunities; and
Whereas, The Legislature finds that it should take an active role in studying, formulating and implementing resources and programs that support West Virginia citizens serving in the armed forces of the United States, the West Virginia National Guard as well as veterans of military service to better assist them and their family members in getting the care, services and opportunities that they have earned and deserve; and
Whereas, The Select Committee on Veterans Affairs has a demonstrated history of initiating legislation promoting and facilitating the establishment of programs to assist returning veterans, including, but not limited to, the veteran-friendly campus legislation as well as legislation to establish a program for veteran-friendly communities and continues to monitor the implementation and development of such programs; and
Whereas, Because of the state’s consistent resident and citizen support of the nation’s armed forces and the West Virginia National Guard, the Legislature of West Virginia should continue to receive input and develop measures on a continuing basis during interim periods in order to provide the best available educational, vocational, social and medical support services for our state’s military personnel and veterans that it can; and
Whereas, The interim Select Committee on Veterans Affairs provides the Legislature a means to continuously monitor and develop various programs and resources to assist our state’s military personnel and military veterans; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is requested to continue studying the needs, challenges and issues facing West Virginia military veterans, West Virginia citizens serving in the armed forces of the United States, the West Virginia National Guard and other military affairs of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2015, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.
This resolution was recommended for introduction and passage during the Regular Session of the Legislature by the Select Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
