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| AG Ferguson's father in the US Navy |
OLYMPIA… As Americans celebrate National Medal of Honor Day today, Attorney General Bob Ferguson unveiled one of the first major pieces of his veterans’ initiative: new Web-based resources for Washington’s veterans, active-duty military service members and their families.
“Like many Washingtonians, I come from a family of veterans. My late father served in the Navy, both of my grandfathers served in the military, and many of my uncles fought in WWII,” Ferguson said. “I am proud of their service to our country and I am committed to serving our veterans, active-duty military and their families as Washington’s attorney general.”
The Attorney General’s Office worked with staff from the Washington Dept. of Veterans Affairs to ensure a comprehensive list of resources.
“The Department of Veterans’ Affairs is pleased to partner with Attorney General Bob Ferguson to raise awareness and help veterans, active-duty service members and their families access the array of programs and benefits available to them,” said Veterans Affairs’ Director Alfie Alvarado-Ramos. “We look forward to continuing to work together to honor the men and women who have served or continue to serve our country.”
The Attorney General’s new Web-based resource center includes information about:
Federal and state laws extend certain rights and benefits to veterans, service members and their families, including laws to help avoid credit and foreclosure problems, and laws to protect against discrimination in employment and housing.
Among the rights and benefits detailed in Ferguson’s new Web-based resource center are:
- Auto lease termination rights guaranteed in the Service member Civil Relief Act. (SCRA) ;
- License-fee exemptions for veterans offered through the state Dept. of Licensing;
- Active-duty credit alerts to prevent identity thieves from accessing service members’ credit while they are deployed;
- Employment protections and veterans’ preference programs;
- Special interest rate caps available to active-duty service members; and
- Programs available to veterans and service members for housing and mortgage assistance.
“Making sure our veterans and military service members and their families receive the assistance they deserve is important,” Ferguson said. “The physical and psychological effects of military service can extend well beyond the tour of duty, and so should our support.”
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Contacts: Janelle Guthrie, Director of Communications, (360) 586-0725