Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Governor Culver Signs Legislation Creating Lottery Game To Strengthen Veterans Trust Fund
DES MOINES – Today, Governor Chet Culver signed House File 2359, creating a new lottery game to strengthen the Veterans Trust Fund. He was joined by state legislators, government officials, and veterans from around the state at a special ceremony at the State Capitol in Des Moines.
“Iowa’s veterans have served with dignity, and with excellence, and all veterans have the gratitude of every citizen,” said Governor Culver. “Throughout my administration, I have been proud to stand up for these brave Iowans who have fought so hard for our state and nation. Now, we will stand up for them once more, and use Iowa Lottery revenues to support our hometown heroes.”
House File 2359 directs the Iowa Lottery to create four new instant scratch and pull tab lottery games each year. The revenue generated from these new games will be used to support our veterans and their families through the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund.
The Veterans Trust Fund was created to provide assistance to qualified veterans to assist in paying for expenses, such
as:
- Travel expenses for wounded veterans directly related to follow-up medical care;
- Job training or college tuition assistance;
- Unemployment assistance during a period of unemployment due to prolonged physical or mental illness or disability resulting from military service;
- Dental, vision, and hearing assistance for veterans living in a long term care facility or under a home health care contract (further asset limits apply);
- Benefits for a child or children of a disabled or deceased veteran following September 11, 2001; and
- Individual or family counseling programs (further asset limits apply).
In addition, funds are available for family and children support groups and honor guard reimbursement.
To find out more about the Veterans Trust Fund, visit: www.iowava.org.
Later in the day, Governor Culver signed Senate File 2123, an act updating the Code references to the Internal Revenue Code and including effective date and retroactive applicability date provisions.