Issue Position: Taking Care of our Veterans

Issue Position

Returning veterans and their families can face different challenges, and state government should work to make their transition back to civilian life as easy as possible.

As State Treasurer, Mike wants to ensure similar hurdles don't impact our veterans and their families. Mike will partner with local lenders to provide an alternative to predatory lenders and payday loan operations that can prey on military families. By moving investments to local financial institutions, the State Treasurer's office can help to provide incentives that will assist in lowering interest rates for veterans and increase the amount of money they are able to borrow.

Mike would bring back the Bright Start Fallen Heroes Scholarship, which, at the request of a surviving family member, would deposit $2,500 into a Bright Start account for each child of a fallen service member who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom. Mike will work to find private funding for this program so that our great state can show its gratitude to Illinoisans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Mike will work to re-institute and find additional private backing to ensure that the Bright Start Fallen Heroes Scholarship is there for other military families.

MIKE'S RECORD ON VETERAN AFFAIRS

Mike's was proud to pass legislation in the Senate guaranteeing returning Vietnam veterans' military service counted toward their high school diplomas. Vietnam vets who had been drafted during high school returned home and did not receive their diplomas. Mike's legislation helped changed the lives of many veterans who had fulfilled their service to our country and deserved their hard earned degrees.

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