Des Moines, Iowa - 'Des Moines, Iowa – State Representative Ro Foege of Mount Vernon outlined a package of bills approved by the 2006 Iowa Legislature to honor and help Iowa veterans and their families.

“As we approach Memorial Day this year, our thoughts and prayers are with Iowa veterans and their families who have lost a loved one or have a family member currently serving our country,” said Foege. “I was pleased to be able to support our veterans this year in the Iowa House as we approved several bills to help injured veterans, give mourning families some peace, and help the children of veterans who lost their life in combat.”

Listed below is legislation passed that will impact Iowa veterans and their families. For more information on these bills, go to www.legis.state.ia.us.

• INJURED VETERANS GRANT PROGRAM -- This new program will provide grants of up to $10,000 to veterans injured while in a combat zone. It is retroactive to September 11, 2001. Grants will be provided in increments of $2,500 every 30 days until reaching $10,000 while the injured veteran is hospitalized or receiving medical care or rehabilitation services authorized by the military. (Senate File 2312)
  
   
• VETERANS COMMEMORATIVE PROPERTY -- Prohibits a person who owns or controls a cemetery where any veteran’s commemorative property has been placed from selling, trading, or transferring any part of a veteran’s commemorative property unless authorized by the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Senate File 2333)
  
   
• VETERANS PROPERTY TAX CREDIT – Reduces the length of active duty service from 3 years to 18 months for former members of the armed forces to be eligible for the military service property tax exemption and credit. Eligibility for the military service property tax exemption and credit is also extended to veterans of the armed forces who served fewer than 18 months due to a service-related injury. (House File 2751)
  
   
• LIFETIME HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES – Corrects legislation passed last year to allow veterans, who served in the armed forces for a minimum aggregate of 90 days and who were disabled, to purchase a lifetime combined lifetime hunting and fishing license or a lifetime fishing license for $5.00. (House File 2244)
  
   
• MINIMUM BALANCE TO SPEND FROM VETERANS TRUST FUND – Allows expenditures from the Veterans Trust Fund when it reaches $5 million. The trust fund is established to assist veterans and their dependents with various needs and this will allow the Veterans Affairs Commission to begin helping people sooner. The bill also provides for an income tax checkoff for the Veterans Trust Fund. (House File 2708)
  
   
• PROTESTS AT FUNERALS – Prohibits disorderly conduct and protesting within 500 feet of a funeral or a building where a funeral or memorial service is being conducted. This prohibition applies to 60 minutes before and after the funeral, memorial service, funeral procession or burial. This bill originally applied to military funerals; it was expanded to include all funerals. Violations are a simple misdemeanor for first offense, serious misdemeanor for second offense and class “D” felony for the third offense. (House File 2365)
  
   
• EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDREN OF DECEASED VETERANS -- House File 2792 appropriates $27,000 for the War Orphans Educational Assistance Fund. If the veteran died before September 11, 2001, the child is eligible for $600 per year but not more than $3,000 during the child’s lifetime. If the veteran died after September 11, 2001, the child is eligible for $5,500 per year or the amount of the child’s established financial need, whichever is less. The child may receive a maximum of $27,500 during his or her lifetime. (House File 2792)

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