For Immediate Release
Contact: SENATOR DAVID JOHNSON
Monday, Feb. 5,
2007
(712) 758-3280
Senate Approves Additional Funding for Iowa’s Soldiers
DES MOINES – State Sen. David Johnson today joined the rest of the Iowa
Senate in voting unanimously for additional assistance to Iowa’s military service members and their
families.
The bill provides another $2
million for the Military Service Member Homeownership Assistance Program.
The program helps members of the National Guard and military reserves purchase
homes through dollar-for-dollar matching grants of up to $5,000.
“Military service comes with
great sacrifice for soldiers and their families,” said Johnson
(R-Ocheyedan). “This legislation is a small way we can give back to the
men and women who have so honorably served our country.”
The legislation originally
included $1.5 million for the program. Republican senators successfully
amended the bill to include another $500,000 for the program, bringing the
total $2 million.
Johnson said more than 400
military service members have taken advantage of the program to purchase homes
in Iowa,
including 68 families who previously lived outside the state. “This popular
program has already used the $2 million set aside by lawmakers last year, he
added. “The additional $2 million approved today will help meet unmet needs so
that more military families can afford the cost of down payments on homes.”
The legislation also provides
an additional $2 million for the Injured Veterans Grant program. The
program provides grants of up to $10,000 for family members of veterans who
have been seriously injured in the line of duty.
“Many times injured soldiers
can spend weeks and months in an out-of-state military hospital for treatment
and rehabilitation. This program helps ease the financial burden on the
soldier’s family members who often must take a leave of absence from their jobs
in order to spend time at the hospital,” Johnson said.
The bill now goes to the
House for further consideration. “The Legislature will continue to strengthen
our commitment to our veterans and soldiers,” Johnson said. “There’s still more
to do.”
Johnson represents Clay, Dickinson, O’Brien and Osceola counties and part of eastern Sioux
County.
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