Rep. Fernandes Joins Fellow Reps to Pass Veterans Protection Legislation

MILFORD, MA—Legislation to improve on acts that support and protect veterans passed in the house last week.

Representative John V. Fernandes, D-Milford, said in an announcement that he joined his colleagues in a unanimous vote on Wednesday to pass this comprehensive legislation, which builds upon the Valor Acts I and II to expand opportunities and services for military personnel, veterans and their families.

The legislation provides preferences for veterans in public housing, makes veterans a protected class from employment discrimination, and expands a program offering scholarships to children of prisoners of war, said the release.

“Our state is universally recognized as a national leader for the level of protections, services and outreach programs that we provide to servicemen and servicewomen who honorably, selflessly and bravely served our country,” said Fernandes in a statement. “We owe our cherished liberties and our entire way of life to the direct contributions and sacrifices of military personnel over the years, so I am very proud to join with my House colleagues in this recent unanimous vote.”

The bill also includes the following provisions:

• Exempts a disabled veteran’s service-related disability income from the calculation to qualify for public housing.
• Exempts active-duty military members serving outside Massachusetts from the excise tax on automobiles.
• Extends the work of a commission to research best practices nationwide for veteran services.
• Provides additional protections for municipal workers who need to fulfill National Guard and reserves training commitments.

The House bill now moves to the Senate, and possibly Governor Baker’s desk before Memorial Day.