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Introduced Version House Concurrent Resolution 7 History

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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 7

(By Delegates Iaquinta, Fleischauer, Eldridge and D. Walker )




Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to continue studying the needs, challenges, and issues facing West Virginia veterans returning from recent service and those generations that have served before for the purpose of making recommendations on how the State of West Virginia can better assist them in getting the care and opportunities they deserve.

Whereas, The State of West Virginia's Legislative Select Committee on Veterans' Affairs has been continuously receiving testimony from veterans, local health care providers, social workers, and educational services personnel identifying the current state of affairs in post-deployment services available to veterans; and
Whereas, The testimony the committee has received illustrates that many veterans were either dissatisfied with or unable to receive the treatment options that are currently available or that they may be eligible for; and
Whereas, Veterans recently returning from active duty are facing struggles, injuries, and mental and physical health care issues that are unprecedented and are not being fully addressed by current services; and
Whereas, The federal and state veterans care facilities, many public and private medical care facilities, and volunteer organizations are becoming inundated with the influx of veterans in need of care; and
Whereas, President Barack Obama's administration's committed troop increase to Afghanistan will most likely increase the need for additional veterans benefits and services that are already stretched thin to handle the influx of returning soldiers; and
Whereas, Many of the state's institutions of higher learning have begun offering programs directed at providing veterans with assistance including financial assistance, campus counseling, and aid in the transition from military life to student life; and
Whereas, In 2009, the Legislative Select Committee on Veterans' Affairs distributed a survey questionnaire to the state's institutions of higher education in an effort to quantify the overall veteran friendliness of their campus' and veteran educational opportunities;
Whereas, The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission has established a Veterans Initiative Task Force to help expand educational benefits and services among the state's institutions of higher education; and
Whereas, The Veterans Initiative Task Force consists of higher education professionals, veterans benefits coordinators, and state agency representatives; and
Whereas, The Legislative Select Committee on Veterans' Affairs has asked The Veterans Initiative Task Force to periodically make policy and legislative recommendations based on their findings; and
Whereas, Generations of veterans from all services have called West Virginia home as West Virginia has one of the highest numbers of active duty and injured soldiers per capita in the nation; and
Whereas, It is important that all eligible veterans receive the services, treatment, and care they so richly deserve for volunteering their lives to the protection of this country and its institutions; and
Whereas, The State of West Virginia should remain committed to showing its gratitude of these service men and women by continuing its endeavor of developing and enhancing services directed at providing eligible veterans with healthcare services and education opportunities; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to continue studying the needs, challenges, and issues facing West Virginia veterans returning from recent service and those generations that have served before for the purpose of making recommendations on how the State of West Virginia can better assist them in getting the care and opportunities they deserve; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2010, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report, and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.
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