Rosen Statement Commemorating Military Family Appreciation Month

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), released the following statement commemorating Military Family Appreciation Month, which is observed every November.

“Our nation’s military is filled with dedicated patriots who defend our country during moments of war and peace,” said Senator Rosen. “Serving alongside our troops are their family members who make profound sacrifices in defense of our nation and its freedoms. This month we celebrate those husbands and wives, sisters and brothers, fathers and mothers who also serve our country, and commit to ensuring they have the support and services they deserve. I will continue working to provide our servicemembers, veterans, and their families with the resources they need.”

BACKGROUND: In July, Senator Rosen introduced the Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act (S. 2100), bipartisan legislation that would create a small business startup tax credit to help veterans who establish small businesses in underserved communities. 

Earlier this year, Senator Rosen introduced her bipartisan Hire Student Veterans Act (S. 537), legislation to expand the existing Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to ensure that all student veterans using their GI Bill benefits can take advantage of valuable paid internships or work opportunities while in school.

Senator Rosen is also a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Military Widow’s Tax Elimination Act of 2019, which would repeal the Survivor Benefit Plan-Dependency and Indemnity Compensation offset, the so-called “widow’s tax.” Rosen also helped introduce the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation extending benefits associated with Agent Orange exposure to  veterans who served on U.S. ships off the coast of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. In June, the legislation was enacted into law. She also co-sponsored bipartisan legislation (S.Res.313) that passed the Senate designating the week of September 22nd through September 28th as Gold Star Families Remembrance Week.

Last Congress, as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rosen helped introduce the Military and Veterans Caregiver Services Improvement Act (H.R. 1472), which would expand VA benefits eligibility to all family caregivers who take care of veterans. She was also an original co-sponsor of the bipartisan Military Spouse Hiring Act (H.R. 2318), which would expand the tax credit for hiring veterans to military spouses. Rosen also helped introduce the Forever GI Bill, bipartisan legislation which eliminates the 15 year eligibility window for veterans after their time in service, simplifies benefits by consolidating the Montgomery and Post 9/11 GI Bills into a single program, and expands benefits to reserve component troops and dependents/survivors. In August 2017, the legislation was signed into law.

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