Governor Gregoire's Budget for Supporting Military Families
“Military families lead our country with loyalty, honor, commitment and perserverance.”
Honors service and sacrifice. Constructs a new Eastern Washington Veterans Cemetery in Spokane County so that every year 500 veterans may be buried near their families and communities and honored for their service and sacrifice. $206,000 GF-State, $7.8 million Capital
Welcomes veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. Expands support for veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan with increased outreach and counseling for post traumatic stress. Continues to support community-based veteran networks to help returning veterans readjust to their communities. $700,000 GF-State
Helps schools serve military kids. Creates the Operation Military Kids partnership to develop and provide information to teachers and schools about the impact on families of post traumatic stress and war trauma. Helps educators serve the nearly 8,000 school-age children whose parents are currently deployed or returning from active duty. $50,000 GF-State
Supports service by state employees. Creates a Uniformed Services Shared Leave Pool for state employees. The many state employees who serve in our Guard and Reserves take a pay cut when they get called up to serve our country, and also risk losing their health insurance for their spouses and children. With this shared leave pool, state employees will be able to donate their leave to help their colleagues who are defending our country. $150,000 GF-State
Remembers our history. Helps remodel the Nisei Veterans Committee Memorial Hall to honor Japanese-American soldiers who served in World War II and other wars and conflicts. $250,000 Capital
Helps homeless veterans. Helps homeless veterans move toward independent living with a transitional housing program. Up to 40 veterans can be served at one time with assessment, treatment, education and job search activities to help them become self-sufficient and reengage in their communities. $612,000 GF-State, $711,000 federal funds