(Madison, WI) – The State’s three largest veterans service organizations – American Legion, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) – applaud the inclusion of key veteran provisions in the proposed 2023-2025 state budget. These include the following: Eligibility Expansion of the Wisconsin Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit and Funding for the University of Wisconsin (UW) MIA Recovery and Identification Project to repatriate Wisconsin missing-in-action (MIA) servicemembers. The provisions were officially released on February 15, 2023, following Governor Tony Evers’s Budget Address.
“The Wisconsin American Legion appreciates the Governor’s willingness to act on the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Veteran Opportunity that was created in 2022. The inclusion of these important Commission recommendations within the proposed state budget is a start at addressing the financial needs of disabled veterans who will qualify under the eligibility expansion of the Wisconsin Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit” stated American Legion State Commander Julie Muhle. “It also addresses the anguish suffered by Wisconsin families with MIA servicemembers” Muhle further stated.
“For the past two Legislative Sessions, the eligibility expansion of the Wisconsin Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit and funding for the UW MIA Recovery and Identification Project were the top priority of the American Legion, DAV, and VFW. It is time for their enactment” said DAV State Commander Robert Hilliard. “Enactment of these important provisions will bring financial tax relief to qualified Wisconsin’s disabled veterans, many of whom live on limited resources, and a degree of hope to Wisconsin’s grieving MIA families” he added.
VFW State Commander Michele Rathke stated, “The Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars is excited to see the inclusion of our key legislative priorities into the Governor’s proposed 2023- 2025 budget. It is our hope that these priorities which are the eligibility expansion of the Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit, and funding of the UW MIA Recovery and Identification Project will be enacted into the state statutes.” She further added, “VFW stands ready to work with the Legislature to see that this happens.”
The American Legion, DAV, and VFW look forward to working with the Joint Committee on Finance and the Legislature to see that these important veteran legislative issues are implemented.
