Supporting Our Veterans

A recent robocall that went out to some voters in our community targeted me as being unsupportive of our veterans. Not only were the allegations unfounded, but they stand against my voting record. I am proud of the work I have done to support our men and women who served, and I look forward to continuing my work on their behalf.

Just last week, I was among a group of House Democrats who introduced proposals to eliminate professional licensing fees for our veterans. These amendments were introduced as Republicans in the House were advancing measures to increase licensing fees paid by plumbers, building inspectors, cosmetologists and several other kinds of professionals. It’s bad enough that Republicans want to make Michigan workers pay more just to have a job in the midst of a tough economy. It’s worse to demand that of our veterans, who have already made enormous sacrifices on behalf of the rest of us. I’m pleased that Republicans agreed, and those proposals now await approval in the Senate.

Helping our veterans find good-paying jobs is crucial. Veterans who came back from Iraq and Afghanistan now fight against unemployment rates significantly higher than the rate for the overall population. The unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans stood at 8.9 percent in July, compared with the general population's rate of 8.3 percent. In 2011, Michigan veterans had an average unemployment rate of 11.2 percent for the year, compared with the statewide average of 10.3 percent.

We should be doing all we can to help veterans get on with civilian life. I was proud to co-sponsor a bill introduced last year by Rep. Charles Smiley (D-Burton) that would provide tax incentives for businesses that hire veterans. Rather than jump on this opportunity to help our men and women who served, Republicans have buried the measure in the House Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee since March 1, 2012. We could be creating real solutions for our veterans. Instead, Republicans would rather play politics.

In addition, I have worked in a bipartisan manner on measures that would exempt veterans from hunting and fishing license fees and create a veterans’ court to help veterans struggling with addictions or mental illness get the assistance they need. I’ve also voted to allow veterans to use military experience as the basis for occupational licenses for plumbers and electricians.

Supporting our veterans matters. That’s why I have always supported measures that help them re-enter civilian life and that thank them for their service. We are all indebted to our sons and daughters who served. I’m glad to have always voted to help our veterans, and I look forward to bringing them more opportunity in the future.

Dian Slavens

State Representative - 21st District

Canton Township, Belleville and Van Buren Township

See Dian speaking about our veterans on the house floor