Brewster: Senate Democratic Legislation Would Protect, Support Veterans
Harrisburg, Nov. 19, 2013 – Today Senate Democrats unveiled a comprehensive package of legislation that would help veterans better adjust to life after military service. State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said the bills address a number of issues that veterans face when transitioning back home.
“Those who serve in our military are willing to make unbelievable sacrifices for our country,” Brewster said. “It is our responsibility to give them the support and resources needed to ease their burden as much as possible.”
The package contains 23 bills, and many focus on issues that a veteran can struggle with after serving, such as securing a civilian job, furthering their education or finding adequate housing.
“In addition to addressing these basic needs, the legislation outlines a plan for counseling and social services that veterans and their families could use to ease the transition into civilian life,” Brewster said. “These services have the power to drastically improve veterans’ lives.”
The Senate Democratic plan includes initiatives to begin a peer-to-peer counseling program for veterans, provide housing assistance grants and fund the Veterans’ Emergency Assistance Program.
“There are millions of veterans in the U.S. and hundreds of thousands of them live in Pennsylvania,” said Brewster. “This legislation would show our veterans how much we honor and respect their service to this country.”
Senate Democrats estimate the plan to cost $61.1 million.
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