SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 6
(By Senators Foster, Jenkins, Wells, Barnes, Deem, Stollings,
Prezioso, Green, White, Unger and Kessler)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance continue
studying the needs, challenges and issues facing West Virginia
veterans returning from recent service and those generations
who 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 B--Veterans' Issues 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 State of West Virginia's Legislative Select
Committee B--Veterans' issues and the Joint Committee on Government
and Finance commissioned in 2007 a statewide veterans survey and
questionnaire in conjunction with the Department of Veterans'
Affairs and West Virginia University; and
Whereas, This survey has earned West Virginia national
publicity as a leading state in developing policy and financial solutions to better aid veterans in their challenges of returning
to post-deployment life; and
Whereas, The data from this survey illustrated 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, The data also showed that recently returned veterans
are highly interested and motivated to seek higher education, but
face certain limitations in doing so; and
Whereas, These veterans are facing struggles, injuries and
mental and physical health care issues that are unprecedented and
outside the scope of care of 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, Many of the state's institutions of higher learning
have begun offering programs aimed at providing veterans with
educational assistance, including financial assistance, campus
counseling and aid in the transition from military life to student
life; 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 honor, 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 aimed at
providing eligible veterans with mental and physical healthcare 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 who 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 of Government and
Finance is requested to review, examine and study the status of the
ongoing challenges facing all of West Virginia's veterans; and, be
it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Veterans Affairs, the
state's congressional delegation and the state National Guard be
enlisted to provide recommendations on how the State of West
Virginia can continue to assist in ensuring that our veterans get the care they need and that their rights, benefits and dignity are
protected; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the findings and recommendations
resulting from the study be presented and reported to the joint
committee as soon as possible and on a periodic basis as
determinations are made regarding findings and recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance is urged to consider the passage of House and Senate rule
changes that would create a standing committee assigned to accept
reports, testimony and continue studying how to improve the status
of West Virginia veterans, or in the alternative, that the Joint
Committee appoint a Select Committee for the same purposes; 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 necessary 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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