‘Veterans’ Archives
Author: deanfiihr Published: January 29th, 2010
In a unanimous bi-partisan vote, the House Veterans Affairs Committee today approved a bill that would give Iowa veterans time off for Veterans Day.
“After serving our country, veterans have earned the right to a day off in honor of their service,” said State Representative Ray Zirkelbach, D-Monticello, who won approval of the bill and chairs the Veterans Affairs Committee. “This is just one small thing we can do to recognize the service of our men and women in uniform.”
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 Study Bill 583, now goes to the full House for debate.
Tags: house study bill 583, house veterans affair committee, Iowa veterans, Zirkelbach
Category 2010 Session Information, Uncategorized, Veterans |
Author: deanfiihr Published: January 26th, 2010
In a move to provide additional support for military families, the Iowa House of Representatives voted to expand benefits for spouses who are forced to leave their jobs because their partner received a military reassignment or deployment.
“As Iowa military families face increased deployments and reassignments, I’m proud to provide more support for our men and women in uniform. If families are forced to relocate and quit their job, the least we can do is help ease the transition for families,” said State Representative Ray Zirkelbach of Monticello, who chairs the House Veterans Affairs Committee and served in Iraq.
House File 2110, which was approved on a 56-44 vote, provides unemployment benefits for military spouses forced to relocate. The benefits come from interest on the unemployment fund, not from employer contributions.
The bill is the first in a package of initiatives outlined last week to help military families and veterans. Other initiatives to help families facing relocation include protecting spouses from withdrawal penalties if they must leave college mid-term and directing state agencies to help them transfer teaching certificates or professional certifications to their new home state.
The bill now goes to the Senate.
Tags: military families, military spouses, Veterans
Category 2010 Session Information, Veterans |
Author: deanfiihr Published: January 21st, 2010
House and Senate Democratic Leaders announced a legislative agenda today aimed at keeping Iowa’s leadership position on issues affecting veterans and active duty Iowa soldiers. Democrats pledged to enact new protections for military families and to continue the multi-year, multi-million dollar expansion of the Iowa Veterans Home.
“The burdens military families bear for the rest of us are significant,” said State Representative Ray Zirkelbach, who chairs the House Veterans Affairs Committee and is a veteran of the Iraq War. “This year, Legislative Democrats will make military relocations easier for the ‘trailing spouses’ in military families. We will do this by providing unemployment benefits for spouses who must leave their jobs, protecting them from withdrawal penalties if they must leave college mid-term, and directing state agencies to help them transfer teaching certificates or professional certifications to their new home state.”
“As thousands of families prepare for the largest deployment in Iowa history later this year, we should do all we can to make the transition easier for National Guard members and families,” State Senator Steve Warnstadt of Sioux City, a member of the Senate Veterans Committee and a Colonel in the Iowa National Guard. “Despite these tough budget times, we will continue our work to make the Iowa Veterans Home one of the best in the nation. In addition, we will make sure veterans don’t have to pay state income taxes on benefits they receive the Veterans Trust Fund.”
Last year, the Legislature created new incentives for employers to hire workers who are also soldiers [SF 197] and provided mortgage foreclosure protection to all Iowans on active-duty [HF 706]. The Legislature also increased the National Guard Benefit program to more than $4 million and took steps to help the children of military families to succeed in school despite frequent moves [HF 214].
The House Veterans Affairs Committee approved the unemployment measure for military spouses, House Study Bill 538, on a party-line vote on Tuesday. Last year, Democrats rejected Republican opposition to renovate and expand the Iowa Veterans Home.
Tags: Soldiers, Veterans
Category Veterans |
Author: deanfiihr Published: January 21st, 2010
House Resolution 103 honoring Iowa’s military veterans was read and passed this morning, stating:
“On behalf of all Iowans the House of Representatives honors and commemorates the service and sacrifice of Iowa’s soldiers, airmen and airwomen, sailors, marines, and coast guard members and thanks them for their service to America.”
Tags: Iowa veterans, State Capitol
Category 2010 Session Information, Featured, Veterans |
