Senate promotes Hobbs military bills one step closer to floor

OLYMPIA — As the Senate begins the fourth week of its 60-day 2008 session, several bills sponsored by Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, are being considered by the Senate Rules Committee for movement to the floor for debate and passage.

Hobbs, an Army veteran who saw service in Kosovo and Iraq, is particularly encouraged that among the first of his bills up for consideration are several that address veterans’ issues.

Senate Bill 5441 directs the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs to study efficient ways to increase veterans' access to state and federal assistance programs, while Senate Bill 6447 establishes the Family Military Leave Act, which provides employees who are married to a military member of the U.S. armed forces to take up to fifteen days unpaid leave while their military spouse is on leave.

Senate Bill 6254 establishes the Washington State Flag Account, through which The Secretary of State may solicit and accept contributions for the purpose of donating Washington state flags to Washington state military personnel. The Secretary of State regularly receives requests from citizens and organizations wanting to donate Washington flags to state military personnel, but is current law does not list this as one of the four explicit purposes for which they may accept gifts or donations.

Earlier this session, the Senate approved adoption of Hobbs’ Senate Resolution 8697 to honor members of the Washington National Guard, and today adopted resolution Senate Resolution 8709 to honor the 3rd Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which recently returned from deployment to Iraq.

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