Military, Veterans Issues to Get Extensive Coverage at Legislative Summit

Military, Veterans Issues to Get Extensive Coverage at Legislative Summit

NCSL's annual gathering also includes a meeting of the Military and Veterans Affairs Task Force.

The military and veterans track at Summit includes a session on how states are managing PFAS contamination on military bases, including Defense Department efforts to mitigate the "forever chemicals."

Each year, state legislatures consider hundreds of bills and resolutions related to military and veterans affairs, including over 1,400 pieces of legislation so far in 2024. The bills address a variety of topics, including fraud prevention surrounding veterans benefits, suicide prevention efforts, National Guard issues, land use planning around military installations, veterans and military spouse employment and occupational licensing, property tax exemptions, housing and tuition credits.

The NCSL Legislative Summit this year in Louisville, Ky., will address many of these issues through sessions in the military and veterans track and a convening of the Military and Veterans Affairs Task Force. Summit delegates are invited to attend the task force meeting on Sunday, Aug. 4, which will include these agenda items:

• A briefing on military affairs in Kentucky with Maj. Gen. Haldane (Hal) B. Lamberton, the adjutant general of Kentucky.
• A conversation on veterans benefits, military transition/workforce development, and community/state engagement with federal installations with retired Brig. Gen. David L. Stringer, director of the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility, which is part of NASA's Glenn Research Center in Ohio.
• A discussion on veterans justice initiatives by Jim Seward, executive director of the Veterans Justice Commission.
• A dialogue on innovative veterans employment initiative with the group Hire Heroes USA.
• A briefing on recent cost-sharing agreements with communities and states to avoid land use conflicts around military bases from our colleagues at the U.S. Department of Defense Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration office.

Later in the week, sessions in the military and veterans track will address innovative policies to serve the nation's veterans, how states are managing PFAS contamination-including Defense Department efforts to mitigate the "forever chemicals"-and the distinctive role of the National Guard.

State Forces

The National Guard forces operate as state organizations in all the states and territories, with state laws authorizing governors to activate them to respond to domestic emergencies such as natural disasters and civil disturbances. State adjutant generals are responsible for commanding these forces when not on federal active duty.

State leaders plan and collaborate with military officials to sustain the presence of military bases in their states, and especially their employment impact and overall economic footprint. Many states make funding available to assist with infrastructure needs at military installations to support the mission of particular bases.

Jim Reed staffs the NCSL Military and Veterans Affairs Task Force.