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May May 19 20
  • In-Person Event

Military and Veterans Affairs Task Force: Presentations May 2022

  • Thursday, May 19, 2022
    • In-Person Event
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Attendees at the Military and Veterans Affairs Task Force meeting

The NCSL Military and Veterans Affairs Task Force met in person for the first time in two years on May 19-20, 2022 in Seattle, Wash. The spring meeting was held in conjunction with NCSL's Executive Committee meeting. The meeting included sessions on a variety of topics, including Washington state veteran services and veteran suicide. The group enjoyed field trips to Blue Origin and Kitsap Naval Base.

The next Military and Veterans Affairs Task Force meeting will be held in Denver in conjunction with NCSL's Legislative Summit on Aug. 4, 2022.

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Welcome

Pledge of Allegiance

Introductions

NCSL Update

  • Jim Reed, NCSL Staff

Services for Military Veterans in Washington State

  • Presiding: Rep. Tina Orwall, Washington 
  • Welcoming Remarks: Secretary of State, Steve Hobbs, State of Washington | No presentation
  • Speaker: Lourdes E. 'Alfie' Alvarado-Ramos, director, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs | Presentation

State Policy Tools to Combat Military Veteran Suicide

  • Discussion of Washington state legislation on veteran suicide prevention, 988 crisis hotline implementation, and related topics.
  • Speaker: Sen. Bryce Reeves, Virginia | Presentation
  • Speaker: Rep. Tina Orwall, Washington | Presentation
  • Speaker: Codie Marie Garza, suicide prevention program manager Washington Department of Veteran Affairs | Presentation

Update on Military Spouse Occupational Licensing Project at NCSL

  • Speaker: Suzanne Hultin, NCSL | Presentation
  • Dr. Michael S. Weiner, chief medical officer, MAXIMUS | No presentation
  • Task Force Member and Participant Roundtable DiscussionTaskforce members and meeting attendees shared a highlight or two of 2022 legislation on military and veteran topics in their states. As well, task force supporter Maximus shares information about their services and programs that support the needs of veterans, service members and their families.

Update from the Defense State Liaison Office (DSLO) on 2022 Key Issues

  • Speaker: Tammie Perreault, regional liaison, DSLO, DoD | Presentation

Task Force Wrap-Up and Next Steps

  • Possible agenda items for the Denver task force meeting on August 4, 2022, were discussed.

Tour of Blue Origin, 21218 76th Avenue South, Kent, WA 98032

  • Blue Origin is building a “road to space” by “developing partially and fully reusable launch vehicles that are safe, low cost and serve the needs of all civil, commercial and defense customers.” Its engineering, manufacturing and business teams operate at a 260,000-square-foot facility on 26 acres in Kent, Washington, 20 minutes south of Seattle. Its mission is to Increase access to space through reusable rockets

Friday, May 20, 2022

Customized Day Tour Naval Base Kitsap

  • Attendees took the Seattle Ferry to Bremerton and were picked up by Base personnel. Kitsap is the third-largest U.S. Navy installation in the United States, home to a range of strategic missions, including all types of submarines, two Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the largest fuel depot in the Continental U.S. It is geographically located on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state and is a conglomerate of installations at Bangor, Bremerton, Jackson Park, Keyport, and Manchester. NBK encompasses more than 12,000 acres supporting more than 70 tenant commands.

Jim Reed, NCSL Staff

Lourdes E. 'Alfie' Alvarado-Ramos, director, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs

Sen. Bryce Reeves, Virginia

Rep. Tina Orwall, Washington

Codie Marie Garza, suicide prevention program manager Washington Department of Veteran Affairs

Suzanne Hultin, NCSL

Dr. Michael S. Weiner, chief medical officer, MAXIMUS 

Tammie Perreault, regional liaison, DSLO, DoD

 

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