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West Virginia Legislature: 2021 Regular Session
West Virginia Legislature: 2021 Regular Session
Committee Substitute
for
1Requesting That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the declining
2 population of military service veterans in West Virginia, and the policies, programs and
3 other factors present in states with increasing populations of military service members
5 WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that the military service veterans of West Virginia are an
6asset to the body politic and have repeatedly shown themselves to be civic, business and
8 WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that the military service members and veterans of West
9Virginia exemplify the virtues of duty, honor, and self-sacrifice in the furtherance and
10preservation of the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of West
11Virginia and all the fundamental rights and inviolable freedoms preserved to the people therein;
12and
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13 WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that veterans not only bring technical skills from their
14military careers; they also bring leadership and human resources skills that most employers are
15unwilling to or cannot train, often have in-demand security clearances, are flexible, adaptable,
16and highly trainable, and are entrepreneurs with approximately 13,000 veteran-owned
18 WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that America’s veteran population has declined 33%
20 WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (hereafter
21“VA”) projects that West Virginia’s veteran population shall decline from its 2019 estimate of
23 WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that the VA’s estimated West Virginia rate of decline is
24higher than the national rate of decline of 35% over the next 20 years; and
25 WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that the Bureau of Labor and Statics (hereafter “BLS”)
26estimated veteran population numbers are not as optimistic as those of the VA; and
27 WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that both the VA and BLS indicate that approximately
29 WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that both the VA and BLS indicate West Virginia’s 18-34
30year old veteran population is significantly less than the national average; and
31 WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that the estimates of the VA do not consider the loss of
32West Virginia’s youth population to military service that do not return to West Virginia after
34 WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that in 2019, of the 339 active duty members of the U.S.
35Army who had entered service from West Virginia, only 75 of the 339 (22%) indicated they
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37 WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that in 2019, only 113 separating non-West Virginia
38natives indicated West Virginia as their destination state upon completion of their service
40 WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that West Virginia’s 188 separating soldiers represented
41just .3% of the 56,263 separating active duty soldiers in 2019; and
42 WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that in 2017, West Virginia ranked 43rd in the nation for
43all separating service members with less than 1% choosing West Virginia as the state of
44separation; and
45 WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that other states in the United States have vibrant and
46growing military service member and veteran populations, with policies, programs and other
48 WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that it is vital to make every effort to improve the lives of
49veterans in our state, we must endeavor to consider how active service members and their
52 That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the causes for and trends
53in the declining population of military service veterans in West Virginia; and be it
54 Further Resolved, That the study include an evaluation of states which have had greater
55success in attracting and retaining military service members, veterans, and their families, along
56with any differing factors in other states, or particular measures that were taken, which
58 Further Resolved, That all measures considered by the committee include the evaluation
59of how any legislative action taken may improve the lives of not just veterans and their families,
61 Further Resolved, That the study include all necessary information on the policies,
62programs and other factors present in states with increasing populations of military service
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63members and veterans that could potentially be emulated in West Virginia by act of the West
65 Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance contract with
66the Center for Veteran, Military and Family Programs at West Virginia University or any other
68 Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance present that
69report to the Legislature, not later than sixty days prior to the first day of the regular session,
702022, which shall include in its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts
72 Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a
73report, and to draft any necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint