HARRISBURG – The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee held its first meeting of the 2025-26 legislative session yesterday and reported five measures supporting Pennsylvania’s veterans, according to Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33), committee chairman.
“Pennsylvania has more than 700,000 veterans who have served this country,” said Mastriano. “These measures, taken as a whole, will have a substantial impact on the lives of our veterans – from those who served in the Global War on Terror to Korean Americans who fought alongside the United States in the Vietnam War to those residing in our six state veterans homes.”
Senate Bill 129, sponsored by Mastriano, would enhance the oversight of the advisory councils of Pennsylvania’s veterans homes.
“This important measure would ensure that appointments to the advisory council are veterans from the surrounding community of the homes,” said Mastriano. “It would require that at least one appointee of each council be a family member of a resident of the home. It would also require subject matter staff from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to participate in meetings. The department would also provide the General Assembly with an annual report regarding the work of the councils. Through these steps, we can help ensure that veterans in our veterans homes continue to receive the quality care that they deserve.”
Senate Bill 130, sponsored by Mastriano, would ensure that family members of deceased veterans are provided notice of VA burial benefits from funeral directors as well as being put in touch with their county director of Veterans Affairs.
“Fostering communication between surviving family members, funeral directors and county directors of veterans affairs will not only help ensure family members get access to the veteran’s records but that the veterans get a proper sendoff that they deserve,” said Mastriano.
Senate Bill 144, sponsored by Sens. Mastriano, Lisa Baker (R-20) and Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), would provide a monetary bonus to veterans who served in the Global War on Terror.
“In every war, Pennsylvanians have stepped up to protect and serve us. Pennsylvania, in turn, has provided a monetary bonus to those who served,” said Mastriano. “Now that the Global War on Terror has ended, it is time for us to say ‘thank you’ by passing this measure.”
Under the bill, every veteran who was in theater would receive a $1,000 bonus – as denoted by the specific medals that they received. Those not in theater would receive a $500 bonus. If a soldier was killed in action or a POW/MIA, their family would receive $5,000.
Senate Bill 146, sponsored by Baker, would establish an advisory board for the Veterans’ Trust Fund.
“The Veterans’ Trust Fund provides essential funding to many fine organizations serving veterans,” said Mastriano. “This advisory board will help to better identify underserved regions of our commonwealth while increasing awareness of the Veterans’ Trust Fund.”
Senate Bill 173, sponsored by Pennycuick, is modeled after the federal Korean American Vietnam Allies Long Overdue for Relief Act (VALOR Act). It would afford any Pennsylvania resident who is an American citizen, was an active-duty member of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces in the Vietnam War between the dates of Jan. 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, and received an honorable discharge or equivalent discharge from military service the same rights and state benefits as their American military veteran counterparts.
“It is important that we recognize that the Korean Army veterans who fought in the Vietnam War alongside the United States and are now residing in Pennsylvania,” said Mastriano. “This legislation will do just that.”
The five bills now advance to the full Senate for further consideration.
View the video of the committee meeting.
CONTACT: Nate Silcox