(Photo) Sen. Gordon and Sen. Kissel Applaud Senate Passage of Pro-Veterans Services Legislation

For Immediate Release:

Sen. Gordon and Sen. Kissel Applaud
Senate Passage of Pro-Veterans Services Legislation

Bill Concept Originated from Somers Officials

“The timing of the passage of this bill as we approach
Memorial Day weekend could not be better.”

Sen. John A. Kissel (R-Enfield) and Sen. Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock) today applauded the State Senate’s passage of legislation which aims to give municipalities additional guidance concerning the services veterans are required to be provided, as well as how to provide those services.

“The concept for this bill originated from local officials in the town of Somers, which does an excellent job in providing services for our veterans,” said Sen. Kissel, who represents Somers and is co-sponsoring the bill. “The timing of the passage of this bill as we approach Memorial Day weekend could not be better. We all hold our veterans in the highest regard, and we want to help towns follow the best practices Somers is exhibiting with regard to our veterans. This bill’s passage will help improve the quality of life for veterans across our state. Many thanks to our former Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Thomas Saadi, who helped me in crafting this bill proposal’s language when we initially worked on this matter during the 2022 legislative session.”

In February, Sen. Kissel testified before the legislature’s Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee in support of the bill. He was joined by U.S. Marine Corps veteran and longtime community volunteer Peter DePaola, Sr. of Coventry and Somers Veterans Affairs Department Director David McCaffrey.

“We are always looking to improve services – and access to services – for our veterans,” said Sen. Gordon, the Ranking Senator on the Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee. “This is about providing appropriate and accurate information in which to service our veterans and providing excellent support to each of the municipal representatives, as well as those that support veterans on a regional basis.”

In its testimony to the committee in support of the legislation, the Willimantic-based Eastern CT Veterans Community Center noted that “some towns do not post who the local veterans support contact person is or how to contact them, including town staff personnel who regularly come into contact with veterans. This results in the Center often being unable to refer veteran clients to the municipal representative in the town they live. This legislation gives a clear definition of what a municipal representative is and what they are expected to do.”

The bill now awaits a vote in the House of Representatives.

Attached photo:
Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee Rep. Kurt Vail, Coventry resident and veterans advocate Peter DePaola, Sr, and Sen. John A. Kissel at the Legislative Office Building in February.