Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H6244 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 03/30/2023

                             
 
 
 
2023 -- H 6244 
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LC002715 
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D 
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023 
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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N 
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $72,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS (RI VFW) FOR THE RI VETERANS SERVICES 
OFFICERS (VSO) PROGRAM 
Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, McEntee, Spears, Noret, Azzinaro, 
Solomon, Casimiro, Perez, Batista, and Shanley 
Date Introduced: March 30, 2023 
Referred To: House Finance 
 
 
WHEREAS, Many veterans in our State are unsure of their status or how to access their 1 
benefits as many of our municipalities do not have a local office, resulting in veterans needing to 2 
access applications and information via the computer which is not always a viable option for 3 
them; and  4 
WHEREAS, The Department of RI VFW partners with the Veterans Administration 5 
(VA) to certify Veterans Services Officers (VSOs) who are veterans, located in cities and towns 6 
across Rhode Island who help veterans and their families with myriad issues including, 7 
healthcare, housing, education and municipal tax reductions, as well as service-connected 8 
disability claims, job readiness, home loans, and burial benefits; and 9 
WHEREAS, It is necessary and essential to increase the VFW annual budget from 10 
$28,000 to $100,000 for the purpose of expanding/publicizing the VSO program and enhancing 11 
the lives of our veterans and military families; now, therefore be it 12 
RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not 13 
otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2023-2024, the sum of seventy-two thousand dollars 14 
($72,000) to the Rhode Island Department of Veterans Of Foreign Wars (RI VFW) for the RI 15 
Veterans Services Officers (VSO) Program; and the state controller is hereby authorized and 16 
directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much  17   
 
 
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 thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers. 1 
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EXPLANATION 
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 
OF 
J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N 
MAKING AN APPROPRIAT ION OF $72,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS (RI VFW) FOR THE RI VETERANS SERVICES 
OFFICERS (VSO) PROGRAM 
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This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $72,000 to the Rhode 1 
Island Department of Veterans Of Foreign Wars (RI VFW) for the RI Veterans Services Officers 2 
(VSO) Program. 3 
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LC002715 
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