Governor Culver Makes Iowa 10 for 10 in Support of Military Families

Press Release

Governor Chet Culver today signed the final pieces of legislation recommended by the U.S. Department of Defense as priorities for supporting military service members and their families, making Iowa the first state in the nation to address all 10 of the Pentagon's priorities. The Governor signed a total of seven bills -- four at a ceremony in Sioux City, and three earlier today.

"The U.S. Department of Defense asked all states to specifically address 10 legislative issues related to the quality of life of soldiers and their families. When the Legislature convened in January, I made my clear my intent to meet these goals ahead of our scheduled historic summer deployment," Governor Culver said. "With my signature today, Iowa becomes the first state in the country to take action on all 10 the priorities. From unemployment to housing, to family services, and legal protections for service members, these common-sense proposals are becoming law because Iowans will always support those who defend our freedoms."

The Governor signed the following four bills at the Sioux City ceremony:

Senate File 2226 relates to parents' rights for child custody when the parent is deployed, to ensure due process rights are protected while parents are deployed, and also allows service members to designate a relative of the child to exercise visitation rights in place of the service member. This bill addresses one of the Department of Defense recommendations.

Senate File 2274 provides education-related benefits to military spouses, including a new protection for spouses who must withdraw from school because of a family deployment, the development of a study relating to the educational needs of veterans and their dependent children, and the creation of a work group to enhance foreign language proficiency. This bill addresses two of the Department of Defense recommendations.

Senate File 2297 opens up state and local government facilities for military events, provides for additional administrative protection in the event of the death of a service member, addresses "non-professional" firearms permits by allowing the permit to be valid up to 90 days after a deployment, and prohibits utilities from disconnecting service to families while a family member is deployed. This bill addresses one of the Department of Defense recommendations.

Senate File 2318 establishes programs to inform state employees who are military members of their rights and benefits while deployed. Among other benefits, it provides for a study to determine how military training can substitute for professional licensing requirements, and it states that payday lenders must obey strict limits on interest rates when lending to military personnel. This bill addresses three of the Department of Defense recommendations.

The Governor also signed the following three bills today:

House File 2414 adds the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary to the list of military organizations or veterans groups that are allowed to perform honor guard service on public property.

House File 2197 directs employers to allow holiday time off for veterans on Veterans Day.

House File 2454 directs the Department of Administrative Services to develop programs to inform, train, and hire qualified disabled veterans for job opportunities in state government, including a noncompetitive hiring program for disabled veterans who successfully completed a federal non-pay work experience program.

"By enacting these measures, we are keeping our promise to all who are serving and have served," Governor Culver said. "To our veterans, I say a heart-felt thanks for your legacy of service in the name of freedom here in America and abroad. To the brave men and women serving today, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan - you embody Iowa's spirit of service. These bills are a symbol of the gratitude we all have for our brave service members and their families."

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