An assortment of state legislators, veterans and Colorado National Guard members gathered Sunday to tout a package of six bills aimed at improving assistance to active military, Guard personnel and vets.
The bills, which sponsors dubbed the “Help Our Heroes Legislative Package,” would provide a variety of benefits. They would make it easier for soldiers overseas to cast absentee ballots, reimburse life-insurance premiums for Colorado National Guard members, and ensure that military and Guard families pay in-state tuition at state universities.
In addition, two bills currently in the House would create advisory boards to oversee the state’s six veteran nursing homes.
Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton, one of the package’s champions and a veteran of the Iraq war, said the bills would improve what he called the state’s dismal record of helping veterans.
Colorado currently spends 97 cents per veteran in the state each year, Rice said. That ranks last among all states; the national average is about $6 to $12, Rice said.
“We are pathetically funding our veterans in Colorado,” said Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver, another supporter. “We absolutely need to do it, on our watch, at this time.”
The bills, which have support from legislators in both parties, are making their way through the state House and Senate and have thus far faced little opposition.
However, one measure – Senate Bill 146, which would provide $300,000 for a pilot program of mental-health services to the families of returning veterans – narrowly survived a 3-2 vote in committee last month.
El Paso County Republican Dave Schultheis, who voted against the bill, said he supports providing mental-health services to military families. But, he said, it would be better for an outside group to spearhead the program rather than the state government.
“I don’t want to put things into statute that I don’t think are needed,” Schultheis said.
In total, Romer said the package of bills would cost between $500,000 and $600,000 to implement. Romer said legislators also may consider going to the voters in November to fund a targeted $20 million trust account that would support veterans’ nursing homes and other facilities.
Maj. Gen. Mason Whitney, commander of the Colorado National Guard, said the bills are a boon to morale.
“To our men and women serving our country, these bills will send a powerful and unmistakable message that we recognize their sacrifices and support their service,” he said.
Staff writer John Ingold can be reached at 720-929-0898 or jingold@denverpost.com.
