Recently, I’ve had conversations with veterans and veteran groups in our community to ensure that our brave military men and women are fully supported during and after their service to our country.
In the final weeks of session, I know there was confusion about changes to the military retirement and survivor benefits deductions. The legislative process is complicated, and I often warn people that many bills, especially the biennial budget, are decided in the final hours of the legislative session. This year, I supported a provision in the budget that increases the military retirement and survivor’s benefits deduction from $5,000 to $6,250 per year starting in 2018. It also eliminates the 60-year age requirement for claiming the deduction.
The recently enacted two-year state budget also provides $1.82 million in funding for veteran service organizations, such as the American Legion and AMVETS, to improve assistance for veteran families seeking benefits and doubles funding for veteran problem-solving courts to $2 million. We also provided funding for the Indiana Department of Veterans to add six statewide veteran service officers. Making sure these brave Hoosiers have access to the resources they need, especially at the local level, is the least we can do for the sacrifices they’ve made.
I supported other policies that ensure that our veterans have every opportunity available to them after they have served our country. Under a new law, veterans and their spouses are given priority placement and preference for the state’s Department of Workforce Development programs. This ensures that these Hoosiers are successful when transitioning to civilian life. We also created a policy that allows surviving spouses of veterans to indicate their status on their driver’s licenses or identification cards. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles will share this information with the Indiana Department of Veteran’s Affairs in order to ensure these families are connected with their county veteran service officers, who have specialized training and can offer resources and assistance.
Please be assured that legislators take veteran issues very seriously. In fact, we have an entire committee dedicated to veteran matters. With over 500,000 veterans living in Indiana, we owe a debt of gratitude to all who have worn the uniform, both past and present, and for the sacrifices they and their families have made. Our Hoosier heroes have given more than we can ever repay, and I am proud to have supported efforts that show Indiana’s appreciation for their dedicated service.
During this time of year, as we remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our country, be sure to keep the families who have lost loved ones and those who are serving overseas in your prayers. If I can ever be of help to you or your family, please contact me at 317-232-9981 or at h23@iga.in.gov.
More later,
Bill
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Rep. Bill Friend (R-Macy) represents House District 23,
which includes portions of Cass, Fulton and Miami counties.
A high-resolution photo of Friend can be downloaded by clicking here.
