Hawley announces bills supporting veterans moving through Assembly

Press release:

A collection of bills supporting veterans cosponsored by Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) has cleared a major legislative hurdle as the bills move closer to passage. The legislation, which has been advanced out of the Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, would increase access to employment and support services for veterans, as well as implore Congress to join the effort to honor our troops’ service.

"Supporting our troops is the duty of all Americans and has always been a focal point of my role in state government,” Hawley said. “The legislation advanced by the Veterans’ Affairs Committee will ensure that all of our nation’s heroes have access to gainful employment, while expanding eligibility for critical support services that soldiers need and deserve upon their return home to the country they have risked their lives to defend. As the ranking minority member on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for ensuring that New York honors, respects and supports our courageous troops each and every day.”

Legislation cosponsored by Hawley recently cleared by the Veterans’ Affairs Committee includes:

• A.7561 – expands the eligibility criteria for admission to a New York State Veterans Home;
• A.7761 – enacts the Veterans’ Employment Act, directing the state to establish a veteran temporary hiring list, which state agencies will use to make all temporary hires where applicable; and
• K.521 – a resolution urging Congress to pass the Troop Talent Act of 2013, which would improve the path to civilian professional credentials for service members trained by the military, ensure credentials are relevant to civilian industries, and increase access to high-demand industries for service members.