04-R 200

2004 -- H 7992

Enacted 04/27/04

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS PASS

LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EXCLUDE VETERANS' DISABILITY COMPENSATION FROM COUNTABLE INCOME FOR PURPOSES OF ELIGIBILITY TO BENEFITS AND SERVICES UNDER OTHER GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS

Introduced By: Representatives Carter, Rose, Gallison, T Brien, and Anguilla

Date Introduced: February 12, 2004

     WHEREAS, By virtue of their service and sacrifices to our nation, our disabled veterans

deserve special benefits that are separate and in addition to benefits the government provides to

other citizens; and

     WHEREAS, Compensation for the effects of service-connected disabilities is counted as

income in determinations of eligibility for other government benefits and programs, such as low-

income housing through the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and

     WHEREAS, The value of compensation is negated and its purposes are defeated when a

veteran's receipt of compensation is used to reduce or deny entitlement to government benefits or

services available to other citizens; and

     WHEREAS, When a veteran's compensation is offset against other entitlements, it is in

effect deducted from the programs generally available to other citizens, and the veteran really

receives nothing additional for his or her disability and is thus not compensated; now, therefore

be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby urges that the United States Congress pass legislation that would

exclude veterans' disability compensation from countable income for purposes of eligibility to

benefits and services under other government programs; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island delegation to the United

States Congress.

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LC02313

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