The Iowa House today approved a bill that would give Iowa veterans time off for Veterans Day.

“After volunteering to serve our country, veterans have earned a day off in honor of their service,” said State Representative Ray Zirkelbach, D-Monticello, who won approval of the bill and chairs the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

According to the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, Iowa will be the first state in the nation to offer veterans time off on Veterans Day, which is November 11 each year. The date marks the anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I.

The bill, House File 2197 was approved on a 97-2 vote and now goes to the Senate.