Rep. Annette Glenn, R-Midland, today testified on her plan to continue and strengthen services for military veterans in their home counties.

Glenn’s plan revises criteria for a county veteran service fund helping local offices across Michigan deliver services – changes necessary because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan would waive certain “maintenance of effort” spending level requirements on county veteran programs and provide more flexibility on how grant money can be spent.

“This is a vitally important plan to make sure veterans continue to receive the services they have earned and depend on close to home,” Glenn said after testifying on House Bill 4122 in the Committee on Military, Veterans and Homeland Security. “COVID-19 has posed unprecedented and unforeseen challenges for veterans and the programs that support them. The intention of this legislation is to provide flexibility to ensure local communities have services in place to meet the emerging needs of veterans – at this critical time, and well into the future.”

The changes within Glenn’s legislation would make it easier for a county to provide direct financial assistance through its veteran service operation. The measure also would expand the types of allowable expenditures if they are determined to be necessary and proper.

House Bill 4122 remains under consideration in the committee.