WPCNR'S ADAM IN ALBANY. By 89th District Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. May 7, 2004: A good way to honor our veterans is to support our troops serving in the conflicts raging in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is important to recognize these men and women risking their lives, and those of generations who fought before them, because their sacrifices should never be forgotten.

As a member of the Assembly’s Veterans Affairs Committee, I have made it a priority to pass legislation that benefits New York’s veterans. One piece of legislation I sponsored extends a tuition assistance program for Vietnam and Persian Gulf veterans (A.9564). In 1984, the program was created to make it easier for Vietnam veterans to attend college. It was expanded in 1997 to include Persian Gulf veterans. My bill will continue the program and assist veterans with their educational and employment needs.

The Assembly recently passed a bill I sponsored that would make seriously disabled veterans who receive federal financial assistance eligible for a full property tax exemption (A.5834), helping lower their cost of living.

A third piece of legislation I sponsored extends the law that allows people who served in Indochina from Dec. 22, 1961 through May 7, 1975 and were injured by exposure to chemical defoliants to take legal action (A.9778). The statute of limitations for “Agent Orange”-related actions has expired, but many veterans who came in contact with toxic chemical substances had their physical disabilities go undiscovered until years later. We have a moral obligation to allow these men and women to pursue legal action.

Patriot Plan provides needed assistance to veterans and their families

As part of the Patriot Plan, which the Assembly helped pass into law last year, the Veteran’s Health Care Information Program was created to help veterans with physical and psychological health issues arising from combat. For more information, contact either the New York State Department of Health at (518) 486-9002 or the Division of Military and Naval Affairs State Surgeon at (518) 786-4610.

In many cases, military personnel face financial hardship when they leave their civilian jobs to serve. The Patriot Plan helps protect the financial well-being of the families of New York’s active military by:

·        imposing a cap on installment loan interest;

·        extending eviction protections;

·        allowing for the termination of car leases without penalty; and

·        extending mortgage foreclosure protections.

For more information about these and other benefits, visit the DMNA Web site, www.dmna.state.ny.us/members/patriot.html or call the Legal Affairs Office at (518) 786-4541.

These pieces of legislation have one common goal: to give assistance to New York’s veterans. Our veterans have done so much for our country. I will continue working to make sure we give something back to them.