Veteran’s Day for 2009 is tomorrow, Wednesday, November 11th. The nation will celebrate like usual with sales and some having the day off of work or school. But there are a number of great ways to show your thanks to Iowa’s and the nation’s veterans.
Veterans Day events around the metro area include:
Veterans Affairs | admin | November 10, 2009 | 
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The House Republican Staff put together analyses on the Governor’s Across the Board cuts. They can be found under their respective committees in the Bill Analysis section of the site or clicked on from the list below:
10% Across the Board Cut Analyses
Administration and Regulation ATB Cut Analysis
Health and Human Services ATB Cut Analysis
Economic Development ATB Cut Analysis
Natural Resources ATB Cut Analysis
Transportation ATB Cut Analysis
Education ATB Cut Analysis
Budget, Economic Growth, Education, Human Resources, Natural Resources, Transportation, Veterans Affairs | admin | October 30, 2009 | Comments (0)
Join Iowa’s veterans on their special day, Veterans Day at the Iowa State Fair, on Monday, August 17th. There will be a number of special events marking the day, including a parade, band performances, and various informational booths and displays.
Those who are at the Fair early can start the day off with “You Made a Difference: A Salute to America’s Veterans,” presented by Mike and Nancy Baethke of Indianola. The salute starts at 9 am and is located in the Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall.
Veterans Affairs | admin | August 14, 2009 | Comments (0)
A non-profit company out of Ohio called Honor Flights, Inc. works to raise money to send WWII and terminally ill veterans to Washington, DC. Two flights have taken Iowa veterans there already and a third one is going tomorrow on a large scale! You can attend the takeoff to show support for our veterans.
Hy-Vee offered to sponsor the latest flight, which will take place on Tuesday, August 11th and will leave from the Des Moines International Airport. The company donated $250,000 to make the flight a reality for the 350 veterans who will be flying there. They will be flying to DC on a 747, a much larger plane than the previous flights and a larger one than the Des Moines airport typically sees.
Veterans Affairs | admin | August 10, 2009 | Comments (2)
From the latest newsletter put out by the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, the department is interested in recognizing the excellent volunteer efforts that Iowa citizens provide to veterans. They are asking for nominations. If you know of an individual who has gone above and beyond for Iowa veterans, please nominate them for recognition!
Send a letter to IDVA outlining the volunteer’s efforts, including their mailing address, and IDVA will send them a certificate honoring them. Nominations should be made for volunteer efforts, not for performing the duties of an individual’s employment. Nomination letters can be sent to:
Click to find out how to nominate someone and for volunteer opportunities…
Veterans Affairs | admin | August 4, 2009 | Comments (0)
On July 1, 2009, the County Commission of Veterans Affairs bill will take effect. Pursuant to the bill passed in 2008 (SF 2134), and amended this year (HF 283), each county will be required to be open a minimum number of hours to provide services to veterans in their counties. The required number of hours is based on the population of the county as follows, and the hours are to be posted prominently outside of the office:
Veterans Affairs | admin | June 30, 2009 | Comments (0)
This year the Iowa Legislature took several steps to help Iowa’s veterans.
Following up a bill from last year that set mandatory hours for county veterans services offices, House File 283 took a few more actions to help make it better. It broadened the scope of the use of appropriated money that was originally supposed to pay for a county service office director’s salary. The $10,000 per year that the counties get can now be used to provide better assistance to veterans by helping keep offices open the required hours, providing for training of staff, etc. The bill set a requirement that the county office be open a certain number or hours and enforces that by requiring that the appropriate money revert back to the Department of Veterans Affairs if they do not follow those requirements.
The House also expanded the definition of a veteran to help ease confusion for Iowa’s veterans. |
The House also expanded the definition of a veteran to help ease confusion for Iowa’s veterans. House File 503 changed the definition of a veteran to include those who served on active duty during periods between the current code defined “War Windows” definition of a veteran. Legislators recognized that, while a veteran may not have served during a federally defined period of war, they were ready at a moment’s notice to serve our state and our country. This new codified definition enables all veterans, whether they served in peacetime or during war, to receive service at their county veterans services office where they may be identified as eligible for federal veterans benefits they may otherwise not have been receiving.
Veterans Affairs | admin | June 9, 2009 | Comments (0)
The 2009 Legislative session saw several bills that will help make a few things easier for military families that have one or more parents on active duty.
In February, the House passed House File 214, joining Iowa to the Instate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The compact, which currently has about 15 other states as members, allows for easier transition between states for children of military families, who traditionally face bureaucratic and social barriers to success. It would make easier the transition of records, the placement in appropriate classes, and the inclusion in social activities such as athletics.
The House also acted to make foreclosures against those serving overseas in the military illegal. House File 706 states that a creditor may not initiate a proceeding of foreclosure against an active duty member of the Iowa National Guard, and the bill brings the Iowa Code in line with Federal Code on this issue as it relates to reserve or regular components of the armed forces of the United States.
Veterans Affairs | admin | May 25, 2009 | Comments (0)
As the House adjourned for the 1st session of the 83rd General Assembly, the House Republican Research Staff put together an end of session wrap-up of notable bills in all committees.
Agriculture, Budget, Commerce, Economic Growth, Education, Environmental Protection, Human Resources, Judiciary, Labor, Natural Resources, Public Safety, Rebuild Iowa, State Government, Taxes, Veterans Affairs | admin | April 26, 2009 | Comments (0)
Major General Ron Dardis addressed a joint session of the Iowa Legislature for the 6th and final time this morning, as he will retire as Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard. General Dardis’ retirement comes after nearly 43 years of service to the Iowa National Guard.
House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen issued a statement in response to Gen. Ron Dardis’ condition of the National Guard address:
“Gen. Dardis and the Iowa National Guard have shown great courage and leadership for our state and nation. House Republicans thank Gen. Dardis for his service and direction over the past several years.
We also thank the men and women who serve in the Guard and protect our state. We are grateful for their dedication and humbled by their sacrifices.”
The House also passed resolutions honoring Major General Dardis and Brigadier General Mark Zirkelbach for their service (House Resolution 12) and a resolution welcoming home Iowa National Guard units who were serving overseas (House Resolution 13). House Resolution 13 was sponsored by Republican Representatives Matt Windschitl, Jodi Tymeson, Jason Schultz, Dwayne Alons, and Steve Olson.
Floor Action, Press Releases, Veterans Affairs | admin | February 18, 2009 | Comments Off
Increase in Iowa General Fund (State Budget) Expenditures over the last three years:
| Per Second: $10.12
Per Minute: $607.18 Per Hour: $36,431 Per Day: $874,338 Per Week: $6,120,309 Total: $957.4 million |
Methodology: The general fund budget increased by $957.4 million over three fiscal years (FY 2008 through FY 2010). This includes federal stimulus funds that were used to cover increases in general fund spending. This figure comes from the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency (LSA). This figure does not include $52.7 million of FY 2007 supplemental appropriations that were moved into FY 2008 in order to allow the Legislature to increase spending. ($6.297 billion in FY 2010 appropriations minus $5.340 billion in adjusted FY 2007 appropriations.) |
