Mass. OKs Bonus for Returning War Vets

Call it an early "thank you" card.

Massachusetts servicemen and women returning home from their second and third tours of duty overseas will receive an added $500 bonus under a sweeping new law approved by State House lawmakers on Wednesday that extends new benefits to veterans in a show of appreciation just days before Veterans Day.

Returning Soldiers will qualify for $500 in "Welcome Home" benefits for each additional tour of duty on top of the $1,000 already offered to service members for their first overseas deployment.

The benefit is one of several measures passed by a near unanimous vote on Wednesday in the House of Representatives that aims to make the transition from active-duty to home life easier for the men and women of the armed services.

"Veterans Day is right around the corner and we need to remind people of the sacrifice these people make. We need to respect our veterans and give them any benefits we can. That is why Massachusetts is No. 1 in the country for taking care of its veterans," said Rep. Thomas Golden, D-Lowell.

Rep. Robert Rice, D-Gardner, said he counted himself among the lucky ones when his brother returned home safely after serving in Afghanistan.

"I know first hand the difficulties our returning heroes have transitioning to civilian life. This bill goes far making sure the transition goes smoothly and when it does not, making sure the services needed are there," Rice said.

Rice said he and Rep. Harold Naughton, a Clinton Democrat and chairman of the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, attended the groundbreaking of the Northeast Veterans Housing Rehabilitation Center in Gardner two weeks ago. The NVHRC provides housing for both veterans and their families, making it one of only two rehabilitation centers in the country to do so.

Rice called the center and the legislation passed on Wednesday a prime example of why Massachusetts is a "continuing leader" in caring for its veterans.

In addition to the "Welcome Home" bonus program, the legislation would allow disabled-veteran owned businesses to qualify for a small percentage of all state contracts by giving them the same support and assistance as minority and women-owned businesses through the State Office of Women and Minority Business Assistance.

"We should be giving disabled veterans the best opportunity to live a fulfilling life once they come home. They fought for us. We should fight for them," Golden said.

Rep. James Miceli, D-Wilmington, said the most important component of the bill in his view the portion that would create additional housing for aging veterans in the state.

The Home of the Brave, a non-profit organization that provides housing for veterans, would be able to access federal, state and private funding to build additional state-owned nursing homes for aging veterans.

"As far as I'm concerned, the timing was perfect and we want to continue to do something on behalf of the people who put their lives on the line and make sacrifices a lot of folks won't make. I know it sounds cliche, but it's true," Miceli said.

The bill would also extend the amount of time service members deployed overseas have to return absentee ballots during an election, and creates a Medal of Liberty that the governor can award to family members of servicemen and women killed in action.

The legislation cleared the House on a vote of 154-1, and now goes to the Senate for approval. The lone dissenting vote came from Rep. Eugene O'Flaherty, D-Chelsea, who sources said voted against the bill out of protest to cuts for a Soldiers' home in his district.

Rep. Stephen DiNatale, D-Fitchburg, said he was hopeful the bill would get the same positive reception in the Senate.

"I just don't think we can ever do enough for our veterans, particularly the ones returning from Iraq and Afghanistan," said DiNatale, a Navy veteran who served during the Vietnam War era.

The authors of the legislation said the bill will not cost taxpayers a dime, with the money being used to pay additional benefits coming from reserves and unspent money in existing accounts. The legislation said the increased bonuses will only last as long as sufficient funds are available.

As many as 30,000 Massachusetts veterans who have served overseas since Sept. 11, 2001 could qualify for the "Welcome Home" bonus, but lawmakers said as few as 13,000 have applied for the benefit.