HARRISBURG, Nov. 19, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank and the Senate Democratic Caucus today unveiled a 21-bill package designed to help soldiers who return to civilian life in Pennsylvania.
Schwank is the prime sponsor of two of those proposals: Senate Bill 1143, which would give people the option of an income tax check-off to raise money to inform veterans about services for post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, military sexual trauma and/or traumatic brain injury awareness; and Senate Bill 1144, which would use the revenue raised under SB 1143 to produce public service announcements that would inform veterans afflicted with service-related illnesses of the services and benefits available to them.
“The circumstances and risks our soldiers, sailors, air force and marines face in the 21st Century are quite different from those of previous generations, but their dedication and their commitment is as great as it has been for 240 years since the first Minute Men turned out at Lexington and Concord,” Schwank said during a Capitol press conference.
“Our obligation to support and aid these men and women is the same as well, just as it was when President Lincoln called us, 150 years ago today, to our duty to honor and remember those who suffer on our behalf,” the senator said.
The money raised through Schwank’s income tax check-off would pay for radio and television public service announcements alerting veterans of the state and federal governments’ available benefits and services, including for PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and military sexual trauma.
“The more people that would step forward to help by checking off the box, the more we can reach out to make veterans know that help is available to them,” Schwank said. “Hopefully, we will pass this so we can meet our responsibilities with the same commitment our soldiers have shown on our behalf.”
The Pentagon reported this year there were 26,000 military sexual assaults in 2012, with more than half of the victims (14,000) being male.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
Editor’s Note: The following Senate bills are included in the Democratic Caucus’ proposal:
SB 1132 – Operation Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom Service Bonus Bond Issue
SB 1133 – Peer to Peer Counseling
SB 1134 – $20M RCAP carve out for vets housing
SB 1135 – Vets priority for public housing
SB 1136 – Homeless Veterans Initiative
SB 1137 – Closing Cost and Down Payment Assistance
SB 1138 – Veterans Emergency Assistance Program
SB 1139 – Military Family Relief Assistance
SB 1140 – 5 additional veteran preference points on Civil Service
SB 1141 – EMS training for PTSD and TBI
SB 1142 – Subsidized child care priority for vets and active duty military
SB 1143 – PTSD, MST, and TBI income tax check-off
SB 1144 – PTSD, MST, and TBI public service announcement fund
SB 1145 – Disabled Vets Real Estate Tax Exemption
SR 262 – Task Force on Women Veterans Health Issues
SR 263 – Urging Congress to increase funding for Department of Veterans Affairs
SB 203 – Veterans Entreprenurial Training and Support Program
SB 215 – Veteran-owned business loan guarantee program
SB 231 – Employer Tax Credit for Hiring Veterans
SB 232 – Higher Education Credits for Veterans based on Military Training
SB 241 – Educational Gratuity Program