The statutory adjournment date for the 127th Legislative Session is April 20. Legislators will be working extra hours to finish up on legislation brought to them this session. Some say they may work three sessions daily to get their work finished. There are 65 Bills sitting on the Special Appropriations table as of April 1. The House acted on the following legislation affecting veterans:

• LD1590, an act to exempt from sales and use tax sales to certain Veteran’s Organizations funding direct supportive services to veterans and their families. Passed

• LD1611, an act to implement the recommendations of the Commission to Strengthen and Align the Services provided to Maine veterans by establishing an inter-agency council to coordinate services to homeless veterans. Ought To Pass as amended, passed.

• LD1612, an act to strengthen and align the services provided to Maine veterans regarding enhancements to the Bureau of Maine Veteran Services. Passed.

• LD1625, an act to strengthen and align the services provided to Maine veterans by requiring the University of Maine system to provide supportive services to student veterans. Passed.

These bills passed the House and will be acted on by the Senate. We will give a full report on these bills in our next column.

All this legislation comes as a result of the American Legion’s Legislative Committee. State Reps. Golden (Lewiston) and Devin (Damariscotta) both serve on the committee and are responsible for bringing to the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee. Rep. Farrin (Norridgewock) and Rep. Hannington (Lincoln were also instrumental in getting these Bills through the process. Rep. Farrin pushed hard for the National Guard Tuition Bill. Funding for the proposed Bills has been established. More veteran’s Bills are yet to be heard and will hopefully be heard before the close of the 127th session.

LD1280, which would allow for a casino in southern Maine was rejected by state representatives. Maine veterans are the losers along with many Maine citizens. My opinions will be covered in another letter.

I talked to Sens. Gerzofsky (Brunswick) and Baker (Topsham) about cuts in Maine Care Program. Maine veterans and their families along with many local citizens will be impacted. We intend to look into the proposed cuts.

Washington Scene

Sens. Collins an King urged the Veteran Affairs Committee to extend the ARCH (Access Received Closer to Home). The senators sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs to express their concern about the potential sunset of the ARCH program and to urge the committee to work to ensure that the program is extended. More than 90 percent of veterans participating in the ARCH program are overwhelmingly satisfied with their access to care and medical services that they have received. On March 15, Sens. Collins and King introduced legislation that would extend the ARCH program of additional five years.

The ARCH program has been operating at the Cary Medical Center in Caribou since 2011. According to Cary Medical Center, the program services more than 1,400 local veterans and provided in excess of 17,000 medical appointments since it’s inception. Without this partnership, veterans in northern Maine would have to travel 600 miles roundtrip to access care at Togus VA Hospital in Augusta. Maine veterans are asked to contact Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-GA, at (202) 224-3643 and Sen. Blumenthal, D-CT, at (202) 224-2823 – veterans helping veterans.

The Department of Defense has admitted to under-rating Veterans who were discharged between Sept. 11, 2001 and Dec. 31, 2009. Any veteran that was medically discharged at this time frame and was given disability percentage of less than 20 percent is eligible to apply to Physical Disability Board of Review. Please review this link for information: http://health.mil/military-health-topics/conditions-and-treatment/physical-disability-board-of-review/pdbr-faqs . This link defines who is eligible. For further info and assistance call the Veterans Resource Center at (207) 406-4103.

National American Legion Commander visits Maine

American Legion National Commander Dale Barnett spent the weekend of March 31-April 3 visiting Legion Posts in Maine. Friday, Commander Barnett met with Gov. LePage regarding veterans issues. The Commander was then welcomed by the House of Representatives that evening. He then visited Damariscotta Post where he presented Gil Ormsby, Brunswick Post 20, with a citation for distinguished service. He also presented WWII veteran, Iona Osnoe, Post 20, with a continuous membership award, 67 years. Post 20 Commander Joe Donahue was presented with a 100 percent membership award. Wayne Thibodeau. Post 20 Historian was also presented with an award. Saturday the Commander presented membership awards to Post 202, Topsham. He presented a Legislator of the Year award to Sen. Hamper (Oxford). Sunday in Standish the Commander presented an Honorary Service award to Bernard Kinney, WW II veteran.

Coming Up This Week

• Wednesday, April 6, Curtis Memorial Library, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., a book group for women veterans and former service members. All are welcome.

• Acupuncture at the MCVRC at Brunswick Landing, 6 p.m., call Center for information at (207) 406-4103.

Till next time, keep the faith.

———

Chick Ciciotte is the legislative chairperson for the Mid-Coast Veterans Council. He lives in Topsham.