Veterans

Sen. Baddour Secures Funding for Haverhill Veterans Center in Supp
Amendment restores over $80K for medical, housing, job support to local  vets   

November 16, 2005, Boston, MA – Senator Steven A. Baddour (D-Methuen) announced today that his amendment to restore over $80,000 cut from the operating budget of the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center in Haverhill was included in the Senate’s supplemental budget.  The Center has long been a vital resource to local vets, providing health care referrals, food, counseling, and benefits assistance to over 1,000 veterans per month.

“Our servicemen and women have unflinchingly risked their lives to preserve freedom, liberty, and justice,” commented Senator Baddour.  “Ensuring that veterans never go without food, medicine, housing, and job support is the least we can do in return for their willingness to protect our families—and for their willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice.”

Established in 1985, the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center has provided crucial support to veterans—not only in Haverhill, but across the Merrimack Valley—for two decades.  Though funding for the center is traditionally included in the state budget, it was omitted in the FY 06 bill.  Thanks to Senator Baddour’s amendment, the funds will be restored pending approval by the Governor.

November 16, 2005

Dear Friend,

On Veterans Day, many brave American servicemen and women were abroad, engaged in armed conflict.  Like you, they have unflinchingly risked their lives to preserve freedom, liberty, and justice.  For your willingness to keep our families safe by making the ultimate sacrifice, we are all eternally grateful.

In my role as Senator for the First Essex District, it is my duty to make sure that the state does what it can to safeguard your prosperity, whether in wartime or in peace.  Yesterday, I passed an amendment to the Senate’s supplemental budget that restored over $80,000 in funding to the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center in Haverhill.  As a provider of health care referrals, food, counseling, and benefits assistance to over 1,000 local veterans each month, the Center deserves our support and was one of my top priorities in our recent spending bill.

Earlier this month, the Senate also advanced legislation to help ensure that veterans do not come home to financial strife, and that they return to opportunity, a cornerstone of the national identity you have fought to protect.  The bill provides veterans relief from costs associated with education, housing, and health care.  I was proud to support the measure, which passed the Senate unanimously and will soon be on the Governor’s desk for his approval.

Beyond protecting veterans, the bill protects the families of servicemen and women, recognizing the immense burden created by having a loved-one in harm’s way.  Many worries accompany being the husband or wife of a soldier, but financial collapse should never be one of them.  Though the legislature can only do so much, I believe the Senate’s bill will allow families—who have also made a sacrifice for our way of life—to rest a little easier.

In the Senate, our legislation has come to be known as the ‘Welcome Home Act.’  The name was derived from the core principle of our plan, which fellow legislators and I feel deeply: soldiers should not return from resolving their nation’s conflicts only to find personal trouble at home.  That belief is especially true when we can prevent those difficulties from awaiting them in Massachusetts. 

President Calvin Coolidge once said, “No person was ever honored for what he received.  Honor has been the reward for what he gave.”  We honor you for what you have given to this country, yet you deserve to receive no less than this state’s full support.  Financial insecurity should never result from your service, and your families should never be left struggling to make ends meet. 

Again, I thank you and your family for all that you have done for us.  Please rest assured that the legislature does not take your sacrifices for granted.  If I can ever be of service in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best Regards,

Steven A. Baddour
State Senator
First Essex District

“THE WELCOME HOME BILL”
A comprehensive bill for Massachusetts Veterans, Servicemembers & their Families

Introduced by Chairman ANTHONY J.VERGA

House Bill 4417

• Increases the death benefit for the families of deceased Massachusetts National Guard members from $5,000 to $100,000

• Provides tuition and fee waivers for veterans and Massachusetts National Guard members at state and community colleges, thereby guaranteeing a true 100% education benefit

• Establishes The Military Family Relief Fund for members of the Massachusetts National Guard, Armed Forces and Reserves.

• Provides a $1,000 bonus for those who were called up to active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan since September 11, 2001

• Operation Recognition - Awards high school diplomas to World War II, Korean and Vietnam veterans 

• Increases annual annuity payment for blind, paraplegic and disabled veterans to $2,000

• Increases annual annuity payment for Gold Star Mothers (parents) to $2,000

• Provides Gold Star Wives (spouses) with $2,000 annuity payment

• Allows Massachusetts public employees who are members of a neighboring state’s National Guard unit to apply their creditable service towards pension credits

• Increases daily pay for Massachusetts National Guard members from $75 to $100

• Provides all members of the Massachusetts National Guard with SGLI (federal government) life insurance policies with values worth up to $400,000

• Expands the definition of a World War II veteran, making the Massachusetts definition consistent with the federal definition

$4 Million for Methuen Armory Earmarked in Appropriations Bill
Funding part of state’s effort to improve homeland security

Boston, MA —Senator Steven Baddour (D-Methuen), Representative Arthur Broadhurst (D-Methuen), and Mayor Sharon Pollard announced today that $4 million has been earmarked in a spending bill filed by the Governor for the design, construction, and related expenses of a new National Guard readiness center in Methuen.  The funds are intended to bolster homeland security by ensuring that Massachusetts can respond quickly in case of emergency.

“Methuen and the Merrimack Valley have always shown a commitment to both the state’s and the country’s defense efforts; the decision to build the readiness center here is a testament to the impressive dedication of our region’s men and women in uniform,” commented Senator Baddour.  “At a time when homeland security must be a top priority, having the facility in Methuen will help guarantee that our community is as safe as possible, no matter what the danger.”    

“The National Guard is so important to our nation’s defenses—we’re extremely proud to have the readiness center in our city,” added Mayor Pollard.  “In spite of its numerous responsibilities, the National Guard has always been a community-based organization.  It’s important that Methuen is involved, especially since our soldiers protect us in so many different ways.”

Baddour Applauds Decision to Allow Soldiers Abroad to Take Civil Service Exam
Calls former policy an insult to men and women in uniform

Boston, MA — Senator Steven Baddour (D-Methuen) applauded today’s reversal of a Human Resource Division policy not to administer the civil service exam to soldiers currently serving abroad.  Baddour called the decision a victory for all soldiers hoping to make a smooth transition back to civilian life upon returning home.

The issue was brought to Senator Baddour’s attention by Lance Corporal Nicholas Milone, a Methuen marine hoping to become a police officer once he completes his combat tour next year.  However, according to the former policy of denying soldiers serving overseas and even out of state access to the exam, Milone’s application would have been delayed for over a year, possibly much longer depending on retirement cycles.    After lobbying Governor Romney over the past week, Senator Baddour and the Milone family helped convince the Administration to reverse its policy.

“This is a decisive victory for one man and his family, but it is also a win for every soldier hoping to find peace and prosperity upon returning home, not to mention a testament to the state’s dedication to its men and women in uniform,” commented Senator Baddour.  “The former policy was an insult to the sacrifice that people who serve make each day to protect our freedom and needed to be reversed.  I appreciate the Governor’s responsiveness—it is important that we can all say Nick’s simple request did not fall on deaf ears.”

As a result of today’s decision, soldiers will have the opportunity to take the civil service exam abroad and out of state under the supervision of a commanding officer.