03/26/2008

News / The Times Record

AUGUSTA — Many Maine veterans do not receive all the benefits to which they are entitled, according to the Bureau of Maine Veterans Services. The veterans’ agency has few resources to reach out to veterans, despite a dramatic increase in veterans due to the Iraq war.

Senate President Beth Edmonds’ bill, “An Act to Meet the Emergency Needs of Maine Veterans,” provides a way to link more Maine veterans with all the benefits for which they are eligible. The measure, as amended by the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee, had initial passage in the Maine Senate last week.

In the past five years the total recovery of veterans’ benefits in Maine has remained flat, according to data provided by Maine Veterans’ Services. There are six Maine Veterans’ Service offices now — in Caribou, Machias, Bangor, Waterville, Lewiston and Springvale.

This measure will expand efforts to educate veterans about federal benefit programs. It is a simple way to assist those people who have stood up to defend all of us.

“With this bill, we will take a great step to assisting Maine veterans,” said Edmonds. “This group of folks served our country with distinction, yet we do an inadequate job of assisting them upon their return to the U.S. Under this plan, they could claim additional millions in Federal V.A. benefits they deserve in the coming years.”

The bill, LD 1985, now goes to additional votes this week in the House of Representatives and the Senate.