Politics & Government
Local Senator Co-Sponsors Bill to Help Vets
State Sen. Louis P. DiPalma represents District 12, which includes Tiverton and Little Compton.
The following is from the Rhode Island General Assembly:
Sen. Walter S. Felag Jr. (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans’ Affairs, has introduced several bills this session addressing issues of concern to Rhode Island’s veterans and their families.
Senator Felag was one of the prime movers in the development of a package of bills introduced and approved during the previous legislative session, designed to assist veterans with their reintegration into society, increase their access to educational opportunities and help them obtain essential medical and human service benefits.
Among the bills he has introduced this year to build on that progress is one that will assist disabled veterans in their efforts to obtain an education.
The bill, 2014-S 2396, would allow disable veterans who are permanent residents of Rhode Island to obtain waivers for the free admission into competitive programs at any public institutions of higher education in the state, provided they meet the academic criteria.
“With the passage last year of many of the bills that were part of the ‘Rhode Back Home’ initiative, we have taken great strides in keeping our promise to provide veterans with the help they need, in many areas,” said Senator Felag. “But there is more to be done and bills being introduced this year, such as the disabled vet educational benefit, is one of those things.”
The bill, which has been referred to the Senate Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans’ Affairs, is co-sponsored by Sen. William A. Walaska (D-Dist. 30, Warwick), Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton), Sen. Frank A. Ciccone III (D-Dist. 7, Providence, North Providence) and Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich).
One of the major pieces of legislation enacted last year was creation of the Veterans’ Services Strategic Plan and advisory committee to be responsible for developing, maintaining and annually updating a five-year plan to ensure that all departments of state government deliver comprehensive services and support for veterans and their families.
Senator Felag has this year introduced legislation, 2014-S 2423, that increases the size of the advisory committee from 12 to 13 members, adding the Adjutant General of the Rhode Island National Guard.
That bill is also before the Senate Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans’ Affairs.
Also introduced by Senator Felag are:
Sen. Walter S. Felag Jr. (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans’ Affairs, has introduced several bills this session addressing issues of concern to Rhode Island’s veterans and their families.
Senator Felag was one of the prime movers in the development of a package of bills introduced and approved during the previous legislative session, designed to assist veterans with their reintegration into society, increase their access to educational opportunities and help them obtain essential medical and human service benefits.
Among the bills he has introduced this year to build on that progress is one that will assist disabled veterans in their efforts to obtain an education.
The bill, 2014-S 2396, would allow disable veterans who are permanent residents of Rhode Island to obtain waivers for the free admission into competitive programs at any public institutions of higher education in the state, provided they meet the academic criteria.
“With the passage last year of many of the bills that were part of the ‘Rhode Back Home’ initiative, we have taken great strides in keeping our promise to provide veterans with the help they need, in many areas,” said Senator Felag. “But there is more to be done and bills being introduced this year, such as the disabled vet educational benefit, is one of those things.”
The bill, which has been referred to the Senate Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans’ Affairs, is co-sponsored by Sen. William A. Walaska (D-Dist. 30, Warwick), Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton), Sen. Frank A. Ciccone III (D-Dist. 7, Providence, North Providence) and Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich).
One of the major pieces of legislation enacted last year was creation of the Veterans’ Services Strategic Plan and advisory committee to be responsible for developing, maintaining and annually updating a five-year plan to ensure that all departments of state government deliver comprehensive services and support for veterans and their families.
Senator Felag has this year introduced legislation, 2014-S 2423, that increases the size of the advisory committee from 12 to 13 members, adding the Adjutant General of the Rhode Island National Guard.
That bill is also before the Senate Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans’ Affairs.
Also introduced by Senator Felag are:
- 2014-S 2145, referred to Senate Committee on Finance, would modify federal adjusted gross income by including military retirement income from the regular armed forces, reserves and National Guard paid by the United States or the State of Rhode Island to persons 65 and older for the purposes of the RI state income tax.
- 2014-S 2424, a Joint Resolution requesting Rhode Island employers to provide their employees who are veterans with time off on Veterans’ Day.
- 2014-S 2425, a Joint Resolution creating a special joint commission to study the feasibility of establishing a Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial at the Rhode Island Veterans’ Cemetery.
- 2014-S 2164, designating April 12 of each year as “Rhode Island Patriot Guard Riders Day.” The RI Patriot Guard Riders is an organization which attends the funerals of members of the armed forces, firefighters, first responders and police and also greets troops returning from overseas at various homecoming celebrations.
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