Issue Position: Veterans

Issue Position

Phil Murphy is upholding New Jersey's commitment to honor veterans and active-duty servicemembers who have answered the call to serve. This includes making sure that veterans have access to the benefits and care they deserve. To support the more than 326,000 veterans in New Jersey, Phil has provided funding for veterans' housing and support services as well as grants to improve veterans' access to health care.

When Phil took office, New Jersey was the only state in the nation that taxed active-duty combat pay. He signed long overdue legislation that exempted this pay from state income taxes, providing relief to New Jerseyans putting themselves in harm's way to protect our country.

Phil has taken steps to both provide support for servicemembers during active duty and when they return home by:

- Exempting combat pay earned by active-duty servicemembers from state income taxes;
- Supporting a constitutional amendment to provide property tax deductions to all honorably discharged veterans;
- Opening the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program to veterans' organizations that provide a critical safety net to New Jersey veterans;
- Directing New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (NJDMAVA) to assist LGBTQ+ veterans in revising their discharge status and attaining earned benefits;
- Creating the "We Value Our Veterans" Award to recognize municipalities and businesses which go above and beyond to honor veterans.

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