House Democrats on Wednesday stood up for Veterans with the launch of the new ‘Veterans Bill of Rights.’ The bill will provide quality medical and counseling care, protect Veterans against financial hardship from service, ensure access to education opportunities, protect military families financially while serving overseas, ensure they received high quality healthcare, and provide additional benefits for families of fallen soldiers.

“In a time of war, when the federal government has all too often failed to provide adequate services for our veterans, Virginia must step up to this moral obligation to care for those who put themselves in harms way to defend us,” House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran said.

The Free Lance-Star reported on the new initiative today.

The Democrats want the state to provide more services for veterans, particularly of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

They propose allowing active military and veterans to opt into the life insurance program of state employees; creating a public-private partnership to provide more counseling services for veterans, focusing on those with brain injuries and post-traumatic stress syndrome; ensuring through the state code that National Guard and Reserve members who are state employees are paid the difference between their state salary and their active duty salary; and for private employees, offering state tax credits to encourage companies to provide that compensation.

“We have an obligation to take care of these returning soldiers,” said House Minority Leader Del. Ward Armstrong, D-Henry.

House Democratic Caucus chairman Del. Brian Moran, D-Alexandria, said the state has to step up where the federal government is failing.

Del Toro, who is challenging Del. Mark Cole, R-Spotsylvania, in the 88th House District, is a veteran and said the Democrats’ proposal is “a wonderful first step” to provide more support for the more than 26,000 service members and their families in Virginia.

“I know the hardships that our military service members and their families face,” Del Toro said.

For more on the Veterans Bill of Rights, please see our press release from this morning’s announcement.