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Vietnam veteran Chuck "Sarge" Lawrence and
Rep. Dan Roach, both of Bonney Lake, watched as Gov.
Christine Gregoire signed the "Washington Rest in Peace Act,"
House Bill 1168 into law, making it the first bill passed in
2007. The measure, prime-sponsored by Roach, would prohibit protests
from being conducted within 500 feet of a funeral or a funeral
procession. Lawrence proposed the need for the bill to Roach last
year. |
Dan Roach
believes the men and women in the military who have served our
country, fought for and defended our freedoms, and have also given
the ultimate sacrifice -- their lives -- deserve our respect.
Their families, who themselves have coped with absence, injuries and
losses of their sons and daughters, also deserve our support and
respect.
To honor these individuals, Dan has tenaciously fought to
represent their interests in the Washington Legislature. This
year, Dan Roach stood out as the leader for veterans issues
when he introduced the
Washington Rest in Peace Act, giving loved
ones of fallen soldiers the room to mourn in peace.
The
Washington Rest in Peace Act
Veterans Endorse Dan Roach... |
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Dan Roach can think of
few things more despicable than protesters yelling obscenities at
families attending the military funerals of their fallen loved
ones. When Dan learned from a Vietnam veteran that protests were
conducted at military funerals in Renton, Kirkland and Yakima, he
readily stepped forward to introduce
House Bill 3293, the Washington Rest in Peace Act
in 2006 and
House Bill 1168 in 2007 . The measure will require protesters
to stay 500 feet away from a funeral or funeral procession. It
gained unanimous approval in the House. However, on the last day
of the 2006 session, Senate majority leaders reneged on a signed
agreement to bring the bill to the floor for a vote.
Although it was a disappointing blow to both Rep. Roach and
the supporters of the measure, House Speaker Frank Chopp said it
would be among the first bills up for passage in the 2007
Legislative Session. Dan Roach held House and Senate
leadership to their word, and
House Bill 1168 was the first measure to be signed into
law this year.
Down-payment assistance for
veterans
- Dan Roach also supported a
measure,
House Bill 2471, that created
a down-payment assistance program for veterans through the Housing
Finance Commission. The program assists Washington state veterans
eligible for benefits, members and former members of the
Washington National Guard, and never-remarried spouses and
dependents of deceased, eligible veterans. Those who are
first-time home buyers would qualify for financial assistance in
purchasing a home.
Tuition waivers for veterans
- To further honor Persian Gulf veterans
for their service to our country, Dan Roach co-sponsored
House Bill 1712, a measure
that sought to exempt those veterans from tuition increases at
state colleges and universities that have occurred since 1991.
Later, Dan supported
House Bill 2233, a measure
signed into law that provides tuition waivers to all eligible
veterans.
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