Honoring Our Veterans

Massachusetts is home to nearly 400,000 veterans and it continues to be my priority to ensure that all of our veterans receive the care and support they have earned. Our Commonwealth leads the country in services for veterans and, through my work in the Senate, I’ve made sure our veterans and their families are given the resources and respect they deserve.

We passed the to expand benefits to veterans, members of the Massachusetts National Guard and their families. The law provides over 13 new and expanded benefits including better pay, affordable life insurance and college tuition waivers. We worked to pass the Representative Edward G. Connolly Massachusetts MERIT (Military Enhanced Relief Individual Tax) Plan, which includes property and excise tax breaks for veterans and active duty military personnel. And, we ended the practice of taxing military expansions, increased payments for disabled veterans and so much more.

In May, the Senate passed its version of the state budget for the 2012 fiscal year that included a ten percent increase in funding for the Nathan Hale Foundation in Plymouth. This funding will help protect veteran services in southeastern Massachusetts and it’s important to continue supporting organizations like the Nathan Hale Foundation, whose mission is to help our Commonwealth’s veterans.

On behalf of the Senate, and the Plymouth and Barnstable District, I wish all our veterans and their families the very best. I thank you for the sacrifices you’ve made, and for your faithful service to the Commonwealth and the nation. Here in Massachusetts, every day is Veterans Day and we will continue to fight for you, as you have fought for us.

I thank you all.