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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 4, 2013 04:08 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Neal P. Goodman |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Iraq War Veterans’ Bonus Program |
| In the near future, I will be re-introducing legislation from last session (former HB 2702) to provide veterans of the war in Iraq a bonus, similar to my legislation that created the existing Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans’ Benefit Program (Act 29 of 2006). Now that this war is declared officially over, I believe it is fair and just to provide Iraq war veterans a bonus, just like Pennsylvania has done for veterans of every other war since World War I. Specifically, my legislation would provide a bonus to veterans who received the Iraq Campaign Medal for their service in Iraq between March 19, 2003, and December 31, 2011, who served under honorable conditions, and who were legal residents of Pennsylvania at the time of military service. Eligible veterans will receive $75 per month for each month of active service in Iraq up to a maximum of $600. Five thousand dollars would be paid on behalf of veterans who died in active service in Iraq or as a result of service-connected wounds, diseases, or injuries sustained in active service. The bonus would be funded through a bond issue, which would first need to be approved by Pennsylvania voters. Since only the war in Iraq is officially declared over at this point, this bonus would be limited to those who received the Iraq Campaign Medal. When the war in Afghanistan official ends I intend to introduce separate legislation for a bonus program for those veterans, as well. Previous co-sponsors: BRADFORD, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, DALEY, FLECK, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GODSHALL, HESS, HORNAMAN, JAMES, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MANN, MUNDY, M. O'BRIEN, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PRESTON, SABATINA, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, STABACK, TOBASH, WATERS, WILLIAMS and GEIST |
Introduced as HB1244