Virginia Council of Chapters

1.  Fully fund the Department of Veterans Services Budget and Strategic Plan as outlined in Executive Order 19:  The JLC requests that the Governor and General Assembly provide the Department of Veterans Services with the resources required to accomplish the specific recommended objectives (e.g. Turbo-vet, additional personnel, etc.).

2.  Support the Virginia National Guard:  The JLC requests that the Governor and General Assembly approve the requested biennial budget and legislative initiatives of the Virginia National Guard without decrement, despite any shortfall in anticipated state revenue, and that the General Assembly pass legislation to protect the custodial rights of mobilized service members.

3.  Wounded Warrior Mental Health Care:  The JLC requests that the Governor and General Assembly establish a state wide program to provide our Virginia resident Wounded Warriors and their families with first class treatment for mental health/PTSD/TBI injuries, and that the Governor and General Assembly also provide competent oversight of a program to efficiently utilize federal/state/private funding for these initiatives.  HB 475, patroned by Delegate Kirk Cox, 

requires establishment of a program to monitor and coordinate mental health and rehabilitative services support for Virginia veterans and members of the Virginia National Guard and Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves not in active federal service.   Another Bill, HB477, improves the Veteran Services Foundation and specifically provides for private fund raising in support of Wounded Warriors.  The JLC and VCOC believe that Federal, state and private funding is necessary to fully support Wounded Warriors. 

4.  Virginia War Memorial Education Wing:  The JLC requests that the Governor and General Assembly release the $3.5 million appropriated by the 2007 General Assembly for the construction of the Virginia War Memorial Education Wing, and that the Governor and General Assembly appropriate an additional $2 million in General Funds for the construction of the Virginia War Memorial Education Wing.

6.  Provide Tax Relief for Virginia Citizen Soldiers called to Active Duty:  The JLC requests that the Governor and General Assembly provide an income tax exemption to Virginia citizens who serve in the National Guard or Reserve and who are activated into full-time service outside the Continental United States in excess of 90 days.

7.  Permit Virginia Resident Service Members to place a “Freeze: on their Credit Files:  The JLC requests that the Governor and General Assembly provide the authority for Virginia domiciled service members and their spouses to prevent either the unauthorized release of credit information or the creation of unauthorized credit accounts.  This is a major help to prevent identity theft.