This year, veterans’ legislation was one of the best examples of bipartisan cooperation in the Legislature. Many veterans have wrestled with the difficult transition back into civilian life, and my colleagues and I felt it was time for Maine to do more to support them and invest in their futures

Those who have served play an integral role in Maine life. We have close to the highest rate of military service in the country, and that’s part of the reason why we look at so much of our public policy through the lens of veterans issues.

For nearly two years, I’ve been lucky to have the chance to work with several veterans advocates, including Topsham’s own Chick Ciciotti, who was the grand marshal of this year’s Brunswick-Topsham Memorial Day parade. They have gone out of their way to educate me and my colleagues about the challenges they are facing and how we can best respond.

The Legislature passed two notable pieces of veterans legislation in 2016: LD 1602 and LD 1612.

LD 1602 is all about providing mobility. Many veterans are unable to drive themselves to critical appointments, which is difficult because mobility provides a sense of independence that is vital for a return to the civilian workforce and successful re-integration.

The legislation will develop the blueprints for a regional pilot project to provide veterans with transportation to essential programs and services, including employment, medical and mental health services, social services and community activities.

LD 1612 is a more comprehensive package of reforms. First, it makes a much-needed investment in the state Bureau of Veterans’ Services to help improve wait times and the amount of time and energy that goes into each veteran’s case. The bureau will gain new resources, including additional staff, to improve outreach efforts and better keep up with the changing needs of Maine veterans.

The bureau will also be required to develop a statewide strategy to end homelessness among veterans and will have a staff member focused on homelessness. This is an area where lawmakers will need to do follow-up work when the Legislature reconvenes in January. We need to make sure those who have offered their lives for this country at least have a roof and a bed.

In terms of education needs, the University of Maine and Maine Community College systems will develop a set of best practices to help student-veterans transition from military to student life. The Legislature is also providing tuition waivers at state colleges and universities for Maine National Guard members, a change which will help more Mainers enter the workforce with less debt, and better opportunities.

LD 1612 also contains a bill I cosponsored to help veterans’ organizations that support post-traumatic stress disorder treatments do more good for their local communities. Local chapters of organizations like the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and others will now have a sales tax exemption that allows a larger portion of the money they raise to go back into helping veterans and providing community service for Maine’s cities and towns.

In addition to the two veteran specific bills, we also passed several bills to address the opiate crisis, which has harmed the veterans community a great deal. There will now be easier access to treatment, and those who became addicted as they healed from combat injuries or from post-traumatic stress may soon have a better path to recovery and an eventual return to the workforce.

These reforms are a good start, but there is more work we can and should do. The disaffection of the younger generation of Vets from the traditional service organizations and the lack of availability of mental health treatment remain to be addressed. I’m honored to serve as your state representative, and I hope you will contact me at 729-4018 or [email protected] v if you have any questions about any of these changes or anything else related to state government. Veterans and their families can also contact the Lewiston off ice of the Bureau of Veterans Services at 207-783-5306.

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Rep. Denise Tepler is serving her first term in the Maine House and represents all of Topsham. She was recently named Legislator of the Year for the second year in a row by the Maine Department of the American Legion.