BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a bill that will expand benefits and services to Massachusetts veterans and their families.
State lawmakers, Attorney General Martha Coakley, veterans and families of soldiers who were killed in the line of duty joined the Democratic governor Thursday to celebrate the signing of the Veterans’ Access, Livelihood, Opportunity and Resources Act.
The new law requires public colleges to award academic credit for a student’s prior military training. It ensures that veterans who are charged with criminal complaints are considered for treatment programs, if eligible.
It also calls for money to be available to help veterans with business ventures and employment. The measure also seeks to ease the costs of housing, utilities and medical services for families of service members killed in action.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
this is good but how about those of us struggeling with vets with dibalitating disabilities, those fo us in serious need of help but are on the edge of “poverty level”. Our rent was accepted before my husbands tumor, before his blindness, now we cant get help because we get too much money, too much money for foodstamps, poverty level was set before prices went up so high, prices on everything, now the car needs repair and there is no way to come up with the money. Oh but if we go totally homeless we can get a bed somewhere. nice
Its too bad there had to be so many homeless vets after the vietnam war. Im sure everyone appreciates those who served but in todays economy we shouldnt be giving one group all these benefits when there are many struggling. We choose our occupations, there are cops out there and firefighters and drs who are saving lives.
At least this is a step in the right direction.
And what direction is that? Inequality?
just another slap in the face for vietnam, and nam era vets