Hoosier men and women in uniform and their families sacrifice so much to ensure the safety and security of our state and country. As such, the Indiana General Assembly strives to enact legislation that honors the sacrifices made by our military men and women, both active and retired. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some of the legislation passed during the 2011 legislative session that might of interest to you.
House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1109 allows Hoosier veterans to place a designation on their driver’s license, permit, or identification card that indicated their status as a veteran. This provision will make it easier for veterans to take advantage of the discounts afforded to them by providing clear and easily accessible proof of their service. HEA 1109 also provides that identification issued by the Department of Defense, Merchant Marine, or National Guard that has no expiration date may be used as a form of identification for voting. Hoosier veterans should not be turned away from the polling place, they defended, if their appropriate military ID is the only card available.
I also supported Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 248, which modernizes outdated language pertaining to the Military Code and allows for more efficient operation of the Indiana National Guard. SEA 248, also provides that the Indiana National Guard is eligible to receive forfeited property from federal law enforcement agencies. The General Assembly recognizes that as the needs of the military change, the National Guard needs the flexibility to use their funds appropriately.
A great challenge facing this year’s General Assembly was ensuring the sustainability of the Veteran’s Scholarship programs. House Republicans realized we needed to find a way to fulfill the state’s promise of education assistance to our Hoosier Veterans and their families, without allowing the program to financially collapse. This was no easy task, but House Republicans worked tirelessly to bring the unpopular Senate passed version of SEA 577 into clear focus. The act was amended significantly to preserve the intent of the original concept while also addressing the concerns brought to our attention from our Hoosier servicemen and women. It is important to note that SEA 577, only modifies the Veterans Scholarship programs for individuals who enlist after July 1, 2011. SEA 577 will change the program by requiring a minimum GPA of 2.25 for the first two years of assistance and 2.5 for the remainder of the assistance period. The act also ties the benefit amount for disable veterans to the disability rating determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. I listened to the grave concerns of our veterans when SEA 577 passed the Senate and worked hard with my colleagues to fix the problems and provide a fair solution. I am proud to have supported a fair compromise that was endorsed by the American Legion, Veteran’s of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and American Veterans organizations, and most importantly allows us to keep our promise to current Hoosier veterans and their families.
While there is never enough that we can do to honor and support those who protect our country, the above mentioned legislation is a testament to the pride the General Assembly has for our Indiana military families. I will continue to support legislation that helps our brave servicemen and women and look forward to the steps we can make in 2012. If you ever have any concerns or would like to discuss ideas for legislation with me, please feel free to contact me at 1-800-382-9841 or by email at h58@in.gov. I appreciate your comments and look forward to speaking with you in the future.
