It's no secret that current deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, often involving unusually long tours of duty and returns to duty, are dangerously stretching our military resources. For individual service members, this means tremendous pressure on their families that may jeopardize recruitment capabilities for the military. A survey of Army spouses conducted in 2005 by The Washington Post, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard University found that three-quarters believed that the Army is going to encounter personnel problems as soldiers and their families tire of the strain and leave for civilian lives.

House Democratic Caucus Chair Brian Moran has announced his intent to introduce legislation, along with House Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong, that would create a Virginia Veterans' Bill of Rights. This Bill of Rights would highlight the Commonwealth's commitment to providing quality medical and counseling care, protecting against financial hardship, ensuring access to education opportunities, protecting military families financially while serving overseas, ensuring veterans receive high quality healthcare, and providing additional benefits for families of fallen soldiers.

"In a time of war, when the federal government has all too often failed to provide adequate services for our veterans, Virginia must step up to this moral obligation to care for those who put themselves in harms way to defend us," House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran said.

The Virginia Military Veterans' Bill of Rights will include:

• Life Insurance Benefits: the legislation will allow active military and veterans to opt into the state employee life insurance policy to provide additional life insurance benefits for their families;
• Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Counseling: the legislation will create a public-private partnership to provide additional counseling services for the roughly 23,667 Virginians returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The program will focus on those who return with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and/or who need physical care for other brain related injuries; and
• National Guard and Reservists Financial Security Act: for both state and private employees. For state employees, the legislation would codify an existing executive order to provide compensation to make up the difference between guard salary and state employee salary; for private employees, the legislation would provide tax credits to encourage companies to provide compensation for guard employees serving overseas.

Delegate Moran understands that Iraq is the most intense and prolonged combat our troops have seen since Vietnam. They and their families deserve our full support both during and after their service, which is why he will propose this legislation to the 2008 General Assembly.