Connors, Rumpf & Gove

March 15, 2010   

Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
District 9

Legislation sponsored by Senator Christopher J. Connors, and supported by Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove to make various changes to membership requirements of the Veterans’ Services Council was approved today by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The changes are based on recommendations offered by members of the Council. Assemblyman Rumpf and Assemblywoman Gove have signed on as co-sponsors to the Assembly companion measure.

“The changes under consideration would allow the Veterans’ Services Council to more effectively carry out its function of working with the state on a wide array of issues confronting our veterans,” said Senator Connors, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Advancing this legislation out of Committee brings us one step closer to fulfilling the Council’s requests for changes to their membership requirements.”

The legislation, S-1493, would, among other things, increase the Council’s membership from nine to twelve members as well as change the terms of membership from four to three years and limit membership on the Council to two terms. Additionally, the bill would require members to nominate a chairman for approval by the Governor, whereas currently the Governor designates the chairman. Lastly, the term “war veteran” within the Council’s statutory duties would be changed to “veteran” in order to encompass the conflicts and emergencies that the Armed Forces are currently engaged in.

“The changes called for under the bill may appear minor, but they have been identified as necessary by the Council to more effectively carry out its critical mission of improving the quality-of-life for our veterans and their families,” said Assemblyman Rumpf. “Accordingly, the Legislature should move will deliberate speed to provide the changes requested by the Council given the important role it plays in shaping State policy concerning veterans.”

Assemblywoman Gove, a member of the Assembly Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee, went on to say, “Ensuring that our state’s policies work coherently to provide our veterans with all the necessary assistance that they require and are entitled to is one of the most important and sacred obligations of government,” said Assemblywoman Gove. “Since the Veterans’ Services Council mission includes seeing that these services are provided, it too must be provided with the necessary tools as well as have the appropriate membership requirements in place to operate productively. This legislation works toward that aim.”

Connors, Rumpf and Gove are primary sponsors of other veterans’ initiatives including:

• (S-113/A-308): Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and free admission to State parks and forests for individuals with certain types of military service.
• (S-114/A-289): Allows municipalities to provide free or reduced fee beach badges to active military and NJ National Guard personnel.

Legislation sponsored by Senator Christopher J. Connors, and supported by Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove to make various changes to membership requirements of the Veterans’ Services Council was approved today by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The changes are based on [...]