SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4

(By Senators Wells, D. Facemire, Williams, Yost, Sypolt, Edgell, Jenkins, Unger, Browning, Kessler (Acting President), Plymale, Laird and Klempa)

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 continues to receive information 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 information 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, During the 2010 interim period, the committee received new and disturbing information regarding issues unique to homeless and women veterans; and

    Whereas, The committee met with Mrs. Deborah Mullen, wife of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, and learned that more and more women veterans are taking refuge in homeless shelters with their children than ever before; and

    Whereas, Many women veterans do not consider themselves veterans, nor do they feel they deserve the benefits offered to all veterans per their service to their country; and

    Whereas, The committee also learned that children of both veterans and currently serving military service members suffer unique emotional and logistical challenges that often go undiagnosed and unnoticed; and

    Whereas, The committee recommended the adoption of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children to help ease some of this burden to those affected children; and

    Whereas, By recommendation of The Veterans Initiative Task Force established in 2009 and this committee, the Legislature of West Virginia passed legislation during the 2010 regular legislative session calling on the state’s institutions of higher education to implement measures to assure that veterans attending those institutions receive adequate services and are provided adequate facilities to make these institutions “veteran friendly”; and

    Whereas, The Veterans Initiative Task Force continues to make policy recommendations to the committee regarding ways to increase the available services at the state’s institutions of higher education; 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 Legislature, on the first day of the regular session, 2012, 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.