Oregon House Passes Resolution to Enhance Home Loans for Veterans 03/02/09
House Passes Memorial Helping Veterans With Home Loans
Full Press Release at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/press_releases/hunt_040209.html
Military veteran and State Rep. Greg Matthews (D-Gresham) today led passage of an Oregon resolution urging Congress to change federal rules that restrict Oregon’s ability to provide home loans for military veterans.
Matthews told legislators that current federal law imposes a restriction on Oregon’s ability to provide home loan assistance to veterans after they have been out of the military for 25 years. No such restriction exists on federal aid to veterans. Senate Joint Memorial 1 would correct the arbitrary differences between the state and federal programs..
“It should not matter how long ago these veterans served our country. They served us and we are more than happy to help them rebuild their lives,” said Matthews. “Particularly in these tough economic times, if we can help a military veteran get into a home, we ought to be allowed to do that. This bill urges Congress to change the federal rules that stop us.”
Oregon House Speaker Dave Hunt (D-Clackamas) agreed.
“The debts we owe to our veterans do not expire in 25 years. The debts do not expire in 250 years,” said Hunt. “Veterans from the beginning of our nation have protected our freedoms at home and abroad. This resolution corrects what we in Oregon believe are simply outdated and unnecessary federal rules prohibiting us from helping our veterans.”
The measure passed by a 57-0 vote.
“I’ll be following up with our federal delegation to make sure they know what we are asking Congress to do… and how it will help our veterans’ community,” said Matthews.
The resolution is one of several veterans’ bills that have already passed the Oregon House. Those include efforts to help for returning military personnel who serve in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families.
“Oregon veterans have our back when they are serving our country. We must make sure we have their backs when they return home,” said Hunt.