Burns votes on bills to help PA veterans

Would add more veterans to licensing boards, among other measures

Northwest Delegation    November 10, 2021 | 3:06 PM

EBENSBURG, Nov. 10 – With Veterans Day just around the corner, state Rep. Frank Burns today voted to approve a slate of bipartisan legislation aimed at improving the lives of those who have served.

Since taking office Burns has championed legislation to help veterans and their families, including his legislation to guarantee in-state tuition rates for students of military families who enroll in a community college or who submits an enrollment deposit to a four-year public college or university, even if their military parent is later reassigned to another state. 

“Our veterans have sacrificed much in their service to our nation, so I was proud today to vote to modernize many of our state benefits and programs, several of which are decades out of date,” Burns said. “These are commonsense, bipartisan measures to help out our veterans and their families, and I expect they will be swiftly passed into law.”

The legislation approved today by the state House includes:

  • H.B. 1868, to improve professional licensing for veterans, service members and military spouses.
  • H.B.1220, to increase the monthly amounts for the Blind Veterans’ and the Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans’ pension programs.
  • H.B. 1055, to further protect military discharge papers stored in a county courthouse records office.
  • H.B. 1612, to enhance the group life insurance program for the PA National Guard.
  • S.B. 550, providing for flags on veterans’ graves in Allegheny County.
  • S.B. 248, creating Persian Gulf War Day and Global War on Terrorism Day.

The House bills now head to the state Senate for additional action while the two Senate bills head to the governor for his signature.