Increased Veterans Benefits Legislation Draws Tallman’s Support
HARRISBURG – State Rep. Will Tallman (R-Adams/Cumberland) today joined his House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee colleagues in advancing two pieces of legislation that would improve benefits for Pennsylvania veterans.
House Bills 175 and
602, which both passed unanimously, may now be taken up by the full House.
“Today we moved two simple measures that will do more to help the men and women who have served our country and deserve our full support,” said Tallman.
House Bill 175 would extend the application filing deadline for the Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans’ Bonus Program from Aug. 31, 2015, to Aug. 31, 2018. The program, which was established in 2006, provides a one-time lump sum “bonus” payment to Pennsylvania veterans of the Persian Gulf War as follows.
• Qualified veterans receive $75 for each month of active duty service within the program-designated Persian Gulf Conflict Theater of Operations ($525 maximum bonus limit).
• Prisoners of War (POW) receive an additional $5,000.
• Beneficiaries of soldiers who died in combat, or as a result of service-connected injuries, receives an additional $5,000.
More information on the program is available on Tallman’s website,
RepWillTallman.com, under “Veterans Issues” on the left navigation bar.
House Bill 602 would increase the minimum state active duty pay for Pennsylvania National Guard personnel from $75/day to $100/day. The last pay increase was implemented in 1996.
Tallman would also like to remind veterans about his monthly outreach program.
“A representative from the Pennsylvania Disabled American Veterans office visits my Abbottstown district office the second Tuesday of every month from 9:30 a.m. to noon,” Tallman added. “This is a great opportunity for the men and women who have served our country to ask specific questions or inquire about programs that may be available to them.”
To schedule an appointment with the DAV representative, please call Tallman’s office at (717) 259-7805 or 1-877-480-9525.
Representative Will Tallman
193rd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott Little
717.260.6137
slittle@pahousegop.com
RepWillTallman.com / Facebook.com/RepTallman