By Holly Thompson Rehder
Hi y’all! I hope your summers are going well and that you have been able to spend some time enjoying all our corner of the state has to offer. I have thoroughly enjoyed being back with my family and was glad to take the time last week to celebrate the 4th of July and all the freedoms and liberties we have here in the United States.
Of course this freedom comes with a price, and we cannot honor our history without remembering the brave men and women who have served in the armed forces over the last 248 years, putting the country ahead of their own lives. It made me especially proud that, despite the adversity the Legislature faced this last session, we were able to create numerous opportunities to help the veterans of Missouri by passing two bills that I am confident will receive the governor’s signature.
The first, Senate Bill 912, contains a number of provisions all aimed at tearing down the bureaucratic barriers standing between veterans and the resources that should be easily and readily available to them. This bill started when its sponsor heard, straight from a veteran, how difficult it is to complete the process of simply receiving a disabled veteran license plate or placard. These are the issues that just drive me nuts! These are the men and women who have put their bodies and lives on the line, placing the general welfare of other people above their own. How on earth have we allowed the system to get so muddied that such a basic right of theirs requires hours of paperwork and face time in government offices? I’m glad we are getting this straightened out, but in all honesty, I’m quite embarrassed that we allowed this issue to occur in the first place.
Other provisions included in SB 912 open up access to veteran assistance and benefits, increase education assistance opportunities for Missouri National Guard troops and create a medallion program for those who served in Afghanistan. The bill also designates the “POW/MIA Paul Hasenbeck Memorial Highway” in Osage County.
Another veterans’ benefit bill that I want to spotlight is House Bill 1495. One of the biggest struggles we see for veterans is when they return to everyday life, and far too often this struggle ends with men and women taking their own lives. These veterans have already given and sacrificed so much, and HB 1495 takes steps to ensure that we are doing everything we can to make sure that when it’s time for them to come home they have the resources they need to transition and acclimate. The bill requires the Missouri Veterans Commission to review current efforts and laws regarding mental health care support for veterans, and then work with the Missouri Department of Mental Health to identify
recommendations and make efforts to adopt procedures, programs, treatments and any other aid deemed necessary to curb veterans suicide. The commission must submit a report to the General Assembly and Department of Public Safety every year to keep everyone on the same page as we work together to fight back against this horrible statistic.
Both of these bills are currently awaiting the governor’s signature before becoming law, but are expected to be signed this week, then we can get to work helping those who have given so much for us.
Contact Me
I always appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns. Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at 573-751-2459. You may write me at Holly Thompson Rehder,
Missouri Senate, State Capitol, Rm 433, Jefferson City, MO 65101, send an email to Holly.Rehder@senate.mo.gov or visit www.senate.mo.gov/Rehder.