Home East County Frazier Introduces First Measure, Assembly Bill 287, To Honor Vietnam Veterans

Frazier Introduces First Measure, Assembly Bill 287, To Honor Vietnam Veterans

by ECT

Frazier Profile

Assemblyman Jim Frazier (D-Oakley) is holding true to his campaign motto in putting “People Before Politics” as his he introduced his first Assembly Bill yesterday aimed at honoring Vietnam Veterans.

The measure, Assembly Bill 287 (shown below), requires the California Department of Veterans Affairs to annually compile a list of names of eligible Vietnam veterans to be added to the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This Bill would include those veterans who were left off the original list for various reasons.

I love this move because with all the gun control talk, job creation, budgets, the assemblyman went a different route to ensure people are honored and given the respect they deserve for serving this country and to those individuals who died as a direct result of their service in Vietnam.

Kudos to the Assemblyman for introducing AB287.

Here is Assemblyman Frazier’s press release.

Assemblymember Jim Frazier Introduces First Measure, Assembly Bill 287, To Honor Vietnam Veterans

Sacramento, CA – Assemblymember Jim Frazier today introduced his first bill in the California State Assembly.  The measure, Assembly Bill 287, requires the California Department of Veterans Affairs to annually compile a list of names of eligible Vietnam veterans to be added to the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

The Memorial is located on the grounds of the State Capitol in Sacramento, to honor those who died during the Vietnam War.  However, some California veterans deserving of inclusion on the Memorial were not included in the original list.

There are several reasons why veterans were not included on the original memorial at the time it was constructed.  Some were inadvertently left off the list.  But many others died after returning from service, as a direct result of injuries or illness resulting from their service in the Vietnam War, including those who died from cancer caused by exposure to Agent Orange.

“I’m proud and honored to be introducing my first bill in the Legislature on behalf of Veterans in California” said Assemblymember Frazier.  “This legislation will allow us to memorialize the bravery and sacrifice those individuals who died as a direct result of their service in Vietnam.”

To contact Assemblymember Jim Frazier or receive updates on AB 287, please visit his website at http://www.asmdc.org/members/a11/

CONTACT: Lawrence Cooper (916) 319-2011

Here is the actual Bill:

An act to add Section 14633 to the Government Code, relating to veterans.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 287, as introduced, Frazier. Vietnam veterans’ memorial: update.

Existing law authorized the construction of a memorial to California’s Vietnam veterans on the grounds of the State Capitol, as specified, and provided that funds for the construction of the memorial would be provided through private contributions. Existing law prescribes various duties for the Department of General Services in connection with development and maintenance of the park around the State Capitol Building. Existing law requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a statewide Veterans Memorial Registry, and to make it available on that department’s Internet Web site.

This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the California State Commanders Veterans Council and the Vietnam Veterans of America, to annually compile a list of names of Vietnam veterans to be added to the memorial. The bill would require that the Department of General Services annually add the names from the list to the memorial, as specified.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 14633 is added to the Government Code, to read:

14633.

(a) On February 1, 2014, and on February 1 of each year thereafter, the Department of Veterans Affairs shall compile a list of names of Vietnam veterans to be added to the memorial to California’s Vietnam veterans constructed pursuant to Section 1303 of the Military and Veterans Code.

(b) The names on the list compiled pursuant to subdivision (a) consist of those individuals that are not included on the memorial at the time that the list is compiled, including the names of veterans that were inadvertently left off of the memorial and the names of veterans who later died as a result of illness or injuries, including physical or mental injuries documented by the Department of Defense, the Veterans Administration, or licensed medical professionals, that can reasonably be assumed to have resulted from military service in the Vietnam War.

(c) The Department of Veterans Affairs shall coordinate with the California State Commanders Veterans Council and the Vietnam Veterans of America in compiling this list.

(d) Any veterans’ service organization or individual may submit names for inclusion on the list prepared pursuant to subdivision (a).

(e) The Department of General Services shall, on or before March 30 of the calendar year in which the list is compiled, add the names from the list compiled pursuant to subdivision (a) to the memorial.

Source:
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB287&search_keywords=

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3 comments

Monica Feb 12, 2013 - 11:43 am

A great choice for a first assembly bill.

Former Chamber Member Feb 12, 2013 - 1:27 pm

That a boy Frazier! Doing a great thing on behalf of veterans.

Walter Ruehlig Feb 15, 2013 - 9:42 am

That is a great thing for a too often forgotten group. Right on, Jim!

Comments are closed.