Issue Position: Veterans

Issue Position

Governor O'Malley and Lieutenant Governor Brown recognize the enormous sacrifices of our military families and veterans and understand that we must protect and support our service men and women by providing them with access to affordable education, adequate healthcare, business support and assistance for their families.

Under the leadership of Governor O'Malley, the state has provided over $5.6 million in scholarships and financial aid for our Veterans--almost three times the amount of the previous administration. The O'Malley-Brown administration Brown protected full funding for the Iraq-Afghanistan Veterans Scholarship program, ending the waiting list and provided over $2.9 million in financial assistance for veterans and the children of veterans wishing to pursue a college degree.

In order to provide our veterans with the critical health services that they need, the O'Malley-Brown administration established the Veterans Behavioral Health Initiative in 2008--allocating more than $5.9 million to the program since its inception.

Governor O'Malley is committed to expanding opportunity to our veterans. During the last legislative session, Governor O'Malley signed into law important legislation that requires every state agency to try to award 0.5% of its procurement contracts to small businesses owned and operated by veterans. He signed a motor vehicle excise tax exemption for our veterans and provided certain veterans organizations with state sales tax exemptions.

Recognizing that our state is built upon the sacrifices of our brave service men and women, Governor O'Malley will continue to fight to make sure that all of our military families and veterans are provided with the services and support that they deserve.

O'Malley-Brown: Delivering Results

Opportunities for Veterans

* During difficult economic times, Governor O'Malley and Lt. Governor Brown protected full funding for the Iraq-Afghanistan Veterans Scholarship program, ending the waiting list and provided over $2.9 million in financial assistance for veterans and the children of veterans wishing to pursue a college degree.

* Additionally, Governor O'Malley has dedicated $2.7 million to the Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program, which provides scholarship money to children of military or public safety employees who died in the line of duty or became 100% disabled.

* Between the two scholarship programs, Governor O'Malley has provided $5.6 million for Maryland veterans and their family members. Under the previous administration, and during better economic times for our nation, the state allocated just under $2 million in assistance.

* Under Governor O'Malley, the Military Department expanded the types of courses for which tuition assistance could be provided to the men and women serving in the Maryland National Guard. The Maryland National Guard Tuition Assistance Program now includes tuition assistance for graduate and professional credit courses.

* In 2009, Governor O'Malley allocated funding for three new Veteran Service Offices, which enables the Maryland Department of Veteran Affairs to serve more veterans who need help filing claims for benefits.

Healthcare for Our Veterans

* In 2008, Governor O'Malley signed legislation establishing the Veterans Behavioral Health Initiative to provide behavioral health services to our veterans returning form Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2009, the Governor signed legislation expanding this program to all veterans. To date, Governor O'Malley has allocated more than $5.9 million for behavioral health services for returning veterans.

* Governor O'Malley created a Veterans Behavioral Health Advisory Board under the leadership of Lt. Gov. Brown to identify the unanswered behavioral health needs of Maryland veterans.

* This past session, Governor O'Malley signed legislation into law requiring the Maryland Department of Veteran Affairs to develop a military healthcare provider transition plan to increase the number of veterans with expertise in healthcare workforce shortage areas to transition into civilian healthcare provider positions.

Employment Assistance for our Veterans

* Governor O'Malley recognizes the impact military deployments have on families. In 2008, the Governor signed legislation that qualifies spouses of recently transferred military personnel for unemployment benefits.

* During difficult financial times, Governor O'Malley provided veterans with seniority regarding state employee layoffs.

Assisting Veteran-Owned Businesses

* Governor O'Malley signed legislation in 2008 to exempt returning military members from the motor vehicle excise tax. Active duty military personnel who are residents of Maryland and have purchased and titled a vehicle in another state will not be required to pay the full Maryland excise tax to register the vehicle in Maryland if they apply for a transfer or title within a year of returning from deployment.

* During the last session, Governor O'Malley signed into law important legislation that requires every state agency to try to award 0.5% of the value of its procurement contracts to small businesses owned and operated by veterans.

Helping Military Families

* In 2009, Governor O'Malley signed legislation to add Maryland to the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. Maryland military families will now benefit from this partnership that helps smooth the transition of records, and provide continuity of education for children of active duty military personnel.

* Governor O'Malley was the first Governor to follow through with legislation that provides the surviving spouse, children, and dependent parents or estate of resident with $125,000 if their loved one is killed in combat.

Tax Cuts for Our Veterans

* Under Governor O'Malley, veterans organizations that are organized under 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code are exempt from the State sales tax.

* Governor O'Malley helped our veterans by expanding the eligibility of the motor vehicle excise tax credit to include a member of the military who returns to Maryland from, or on, active duty within a year. The credit applies to titling and registration of a vehicle previously titled and registered in another state.

* By using systems established by Governor O'Malley, the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) assisted our veterans with claims resulting in $9,502,194 in compensations and pension benefits.

Honoring Our Veterans

* In 2008, Governor O'Malley established the Gold Star license plate so families of the fallen can honor their service by displaying this special license plate.

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