In an early morning vote ahead of Memorial Day weekend, the Connecticut Senate voted unanimously to pass the HERO Act, a wide-ranging bill that establishes November as Veterans’ Month and expands a variety of services and recognitions for military veterans.
Sen. Paul Honig, a Harwinton Democrat who co-chairs the Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee, led the Friday effort in the upper chamber. The bill now heads to Gov. Ned Lamont’s desk for his signature.
“In Connecticut, we recognize the service and sacrifices made by our veterans and military servicemembers, and this bill ensures they receive the respect and appreciation they deserve,” Honig said during floor debate. “While it’s hard for any law to truly repay our vets, I’m proud of this effort to honor their service.”
The bill makes a number of changes designed to address the concerns and comments of veterans and their families.
The legislation waives fees for Purple Heart license plates, makes license renewals free for veterans at Stand Down events, and calls on the state Department of Veterans Affairs to evaluate how to improve dental care for veterans. It also accelerates nursing home placement for veterans with service-connected disabilities and smooths school transitions for children of active-duty servicemembers who are relocated on orders.
The bill creates new commemorative plates for women veterans and for the Borinqueneers, a Puerto Rican regiment that served in the U.S. Army with distinction.
Lawmakers said the measure reflects input from veterans across the state and is intended to both recognize service and remove barriers to care.
