Issue Position: Veterans' Issues

Issue Position

For the past few years, I have served as Gov. Nikki Haley's representative on the South Carolina Military Base Task Force, which she created by executive order on December 22, 2011. Through serving on that Task Force, I learned that BRAC, in future base closing deliberations, will consider whether a base is located in a state that has addressed ten particular "quality-of-life" issues unique to military families. I have sponsored bills that have passed by the legislature and been signed into law by the governor that accomplish all but one of those quality of life measures. They are:

* A bill that allows members of the military and their spouse and dependents to vote by absentee ballot in all elections
* A bill to increase protections for military personnel against predatory lending
* A bill to make it easier for military spouses to transfer professional license
* A bill to extend property-tax exemption to property used for military housing
* A bill to provide Medicaid waiver protections to in-state members of the armed service
* A bill to improve communications between state child welfare agencies and the local installations (working with the state Department of Health and Human Services)
* A bill to promote affordable child care for military children (by working with the state Department of Social Services)
* A bill to create a task force to identify issues related to military-connected children
* A bill that commissions an annual report re: the performance of military-connected children who attend our schools
* A bill that creates a Veterans Treatment Court that seeks to habilitate veterans by diverting them from the traditional criminal justice system
* A bill to provide in-state tuition rates for military personnel and dependents

I am proud that South Carolina ranks #1 in the nation in enacting laws that enhance the quality of life of our military community and recognize the unique challenges those families face.

Source