SALEM—On Friday, February 19th the Oregon House of Representatives passed House Joint Resolution 202A with unanimous, bipartisan support.
The bill, Chief Sponsored by Rep. Paul Evans (D-Monmouth), seeks to refer a proposal to the November ballot that would set aside 2% of lottery revenues (roughly $25 million) for Veterans outreach and programing per biennium. It is estimated that every dollar that Oregon invests at the state level for veterans’ services brings in $77 from the federal government in the form of education, healthcare, housing and transportation benefits.
This proposal is the culmination of years of careful crafting and research having been developed over the last several legislative sessions. HJR 202A is Co-Chief Sponsored by Rep. Julie Parrish (R-West Linn).
Currently it is estimated that there are 350,000 veterans living in Oregon, of which less than 100,000 are currently receiving support from the federal government. While the state of Oregon is clearly unable to provide the necessary services for all veterans living in Oregon, the initial investment at the state level is a mechanism for unlocking federal funding and keeping faith with the men and women who served in our military, often in combat zones.
HJR 202A passed both the House Veterans’ Services and Emergency Preparedness and Rules Committees with unanimous, bipartisan support.
“Due to recent events I began to think of Dr. Martin Luther King’s historic 1963 speech when he talked about the fierce urgency of now” says Rep. Evans. “Nationally, 22 veterans a day commit suicide. We cannot afford to wait in providing critical services.”
The Resolution now heads to the Oregon Senate.
