News: Press Releases & Statements
House Approves Jones-Sponsored Veterans Bill
11.02.05 | Contact: Meredith Warren, 617-722-2100
BOSTON?House lawmakers yesterday unanimously approved a plan to offer a host of new benefits to Massachusetts veterans and National Guardsmen.
Co-sponsored by House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr., the ?Welcome Home Bill? would raise the daily stipend for National Guardsmen from $75 to $100 and would increase the death benefit for their families from $5,000 to $100,000.
The bill would also create a Massachusetts Military Family Relief Fund to help National Guardsmen, reservists and their families pay for food, housing, utilities and medical services. Individuals would be able to donate to the fund by checking a box on their income tax forms.
?Our National Guardsmen and reservists have been asked to make enormous sacrifices and commitments to serving our country,? said Jones, R-North Reading. ?We, in turn, should make a commitment to support them and their families in any way we can.?
In an effort to provide even more benefits to veterans, Jones successfully lobbied his House colleagues to include a provision that would create a legislative commission to study the possibility of offering tuition and fee waivers to veterans attending Massachusetts public colleges.
The plan now goes to the Senate for approval. Gov. Mitt Romney has said he would like to sign the bill on Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
###