This Monday saw a number of activities centered on the sacrifices of our country’s military personnel, both past and present. Memorial Day is specifically set aside to honor those who gave the greatest sacrifice and fought for the freedoms this country enjoys. I was honored to participate in several local veterans’ programs at our cemeteries and also to represent the Missouri Veterans Commission at the Higginsville Veterans Cemetery and the Warrensburg Veterans Home. Also this week, the governor signed into law one of the most important pieces of legislation the General Assembly passed during the recent session, establishing long-term funding for our veterans’ homes.
House Bill 1731 provides for full funding and staffing to Missouri’s seven veterans’ homes by allocating money to the Veterans’ Commission Capital Improvement Trust Fund (VCCITF) from funds gathered by the state’s Gaming Trust Fund. I am proud to be able to say this bill passed unanimously in the Senate. Since this measure contained an emergency clause, it took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature. I was proud to be able to join the governor when he signed the bill into law at the Warrensburg Veterans Home.
A bill I had the honor of carrying this session that will benefit Missouri’s military heroes was House Bill 1680. Renaming the Heroes at Home Program to the more appropriate title of the Show-Me Heroes Program, it will continue to assist veterans in finding jobs when they return home from service. The program also assists military families in other positive ways. It assists spouses of military personnel in finding employment during the service member’s deployment. It also helps address any financial need during the military member’s service and for a year following his or her discharge. Assistance is available through this program during times of financial crisis. House Bill 1680 also clarifies who is available for assistance through the program by adding military personnel who are recently discharged to eligibility standards.
As one of two senators serving on the Missouri Veterans Commission, I remain deeply committed to serving the veterans and military personnel of Missouri. The sacrifices made by those brave men and women and their families is not something that can be repaid in mere dollars. I look forward to many opportunities to visit with servicemen and women, past and present, and learn more about issues affecting them on a daily basis. With both Whiteman Air Force Base and the Warrensburg Veterans’ Home in the 31st Senatorial District, I am very proud of those hometown heroes and of the care and acceptance they are offered by the friends and neighbors that call the 31st District home.
If you are interested in these bills, or in any other legislation that passed during the 2012 session, you can see a list of bills that have been agreed to by the legislature by visiting www.senate.mo.gov and going to the “Legislation” tab and clicking on the Truly Agreed Bills link.
As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or 573-751-2272, or by fax at 573-526-7381.
Senator David Pearce serves Bates, Cass, Johnson and Vernon counties in the 31st State Senatorial District.
