Honoring All Who ServedHonoring All Who ServedNOVEMBER 2019

Dear Friend:

We owe so much to Michigan’s servicemen and women who have kept our country strong and free. I am committed to supporting the heroes who have answered our nation’s call to duty. Through their courage and sacrifice, our veterans deserve the best services and care we can provide!

This report, Honoring All Who Served, provides legislative news, issues of interest to veterans and their families and important contact information to better access benefits and services. I hope you find it useful.

As always, please contact me with any questions, concerns or suggestions on how we can better serve those who have served.

Sincerely,

SENATE DISTRICT 8TOLL FREE 855.347.8008

E-MAIL senplucido@senate.michigan.gov

VISIT www.SenatorPeteLucido.com

S TAT E S E N AT O R

PETER J. LUCIDO

STATE SENATOR PETER J. LUCIDO • TOLL-FREE 855.347.8008

MICHIGAN’S PROJECTED 2020 VETERAN POPULATION: 534,639

LUCIDO SUPPORTS BLUE STAR FAMILIES LICENSE PLATE BILL

PERIOD OF SERVICE (peacetime veterans excluded)

WWII 9,558KOREA 33,293

VIETNAM 191,632GULF WAR 168,202

National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics (www.va.gov/vetdata)

Source: VA Veteran Population Projection Model

VETERAN EMPLOYMENTService members bring a unique set of leadership skills, expertise and experience to a job. The Legislature has recognized this range of knowledge and ability and passed legislation to help veterans transfer many military skills to the civilian world.

If you are transitioning from the armed forces to the civilian workforce, these sites may provide valuable assistance:

• Transition Assistance www.michiganveterans.com/p/Transition-Assistance;

• Michigan Veteran-Friendly Employer Program www.michiganveterans.com/a/Certified-Veteran-Friendly-Employers;

• Find a Job www.mitalent.org/find-a-job; and

• Veterans Priority of Service Michigan Works! Service Center (800.285.WORKS) or www.michiganworks.org.

Our service members make many sacrifices in service to our country. Their families often do as well.

I recently supported Senate legislation to create a special license plate recognizing families of active duty military. Senate Bill 118 would create a Blue Star Families license plate available to individuals currently serving in the U.S. armed forces and their immediate family members.

The plate would show the Blue Star Families insignia and “Blue Star Family” beneath the registration number, allowing families to share their pride in their enlisted service member.

The secretary of state offers a Gold Star Family license plate to the immediate family of a service member who has died in the line of duty.

There are also more than two dozen specialty veteran/military service plates for qualified veterans. Fundraising plates include a Veterans Memorial plate for motorists who wish to support the Michigan Vietnam Veterans Memorial monument and a Support Michigan Veterans plate that helps fund outreach activities to benefit Michigan veterans and their families.

Find more information by typing the key words License Plate Store at www.michigan.gov/sos.

HUNTING/FISHING FEES WAIVED FOR QUALIFIED VETS AND ACTIVE DUTY

Many veterans enjoy Michigan’s outdoor sporting traditions. In support of their service, Michigan residents who are veterans with 100-percent disability or active-duty U.S. military can have fees for hunting and fishing licenses not obtained through a lottery waived. Veterans who are eligible for 100-percent disability, as well as veterans who were prisoners of war and Medal of Honor recipients, receive free entry into any of Michigan’s state parks with their valid vehicle license plate.

More information, including documents accepted for proof of military status, is available in the hunting and fishing guides at www.michigan.gov/dnrdigests.

For the 25th consecutive year, a special Senate Memorial Day service honored the servicemen and women who

gave their lives while fighting for our country. The solemn event held every May helps ensure that we never forget

our fallen heroes’ legacy of honor and sacrifice.

E-MAIL senplucido@senate.michigan.gov • VISIT www.SenatorPeteLucido.com

MICHIGAN DEFENSE INDUSTRY• Provides $4.6 BILLION worth of goods and services to the

Department of Defense (DoD).

• Served by 4,000 MICHIGAN CONTRACTORS, with thousands more businesses in the supply chain.

• Supports 126,000 DEFENSE-RELATED JOBS throughout the state, with a state GDP of $11.7 BILLION.

• Accounts for $12 BILLION in personal income to residents.

• Home to more than 160 aerospace product and parts manufacturing companies.

• Counts 9 of the 10 largest U.S. aerospace/defense R&D firms with a presence in Michigan.

• Ranks 3rd in the nation for cybersecurity growth potential.

• Has a prime contract with the DoD in more than 80% of Michigan counties.

Find more information at www.michiganbusiness.org/industries/core-industries and www.arsenalofinnovation.com.

Michigan Senate Remembers

Veterans: Keep this information handy to help you access the benefits, employment, education, health

care and quality of life services you have earned.

COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES

Macomb Co. Veterans Services Verkuilen Building

21885 Dunham Rd., Suite 3 Clinton Twp. MI 48036

586.469.5315 https://vets.macombgov.org/Vets-Home?

STATE Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA)

Phone: 800.MICH.VET (800.642.4838) Fax: 517.284.5295

MVAAResourceCenter@michigan.gov www.michiganveterans.com

Phoenix Bldg., 5th Floor 222 N. Washington Square; P.O. Box 30104

Lansing, MI 48909

FEDERALU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

MyVA311 (844.698.2311) • www.va.gov

Detroit Regional Office 800.827.1000

McNamara Federal Building 477 Michigan Ave., Detroit MI 48226

Find VA Michigan Vet Center, Out-patient Clinic and Medical Center locations at www.va.gov/directory/guide/

state.asp?STATE=MI&dnum=ALL

Veterans Crisis Line Confidential; available 24/7

800.273.8255; press 1 • Text 838255 www.VeteransCrisisLine.net

Numbers subject to change

VETERANS SERVICES CONTACT INFORMATION