REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION,
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND VETERANS
RELATIONS
The Honorable,
The Board of Commissioners of
ATTENDANCE
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Present: |
Chairman Suffredin, Vice Chairman Silvestri, Commissioners
Beavers, Butler, Claypool, Collins, Daley, Gorman, Maldonado, Moreno, Murphy,
Peraica, Quigley, Schneider, Sims and Steele (16) |
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Absent: |
Commissioner Goslin (1) |
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Also
Present: |
Richard Morbidoni – Superintendent, Veterans Assistance
Commission; Stewart Reeve – Chief of Staff, Illinois Department of Veterans’
Affairs; Christine Glunz – Deputy Chief of Staff, Illinois Department of
Veterans’ Affairs |
Ladies and
Gentlemen:
Your Committee
on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations of the Board of Commissioners
of Cook County met pursuant to notice on
Your Committee
has considered the following items and upon adoption of this report, the
recommendations are as follows:
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287221 |
PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO COOK PROPOSED RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the backbone of our democracy is
a voluntary military service; and WHEREAS, over 275,000 military veterans
live in WHEREAS, many veterans rely on
governmental programs for services that help them deal with service-related
issues and it is vital that all those who are eligible for assistance know
what is available; and WHEREAS, the needs of NOW, THEREFORE, BE
IT RESOLVED, that
Richard Morbidoni, Superintendent of the Cook County Commission on Veterans
Assistance, appear before the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and
Veterans Relations to present a detailed explanation of the programs and
resources available to * Referred
to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations on |
Chairman Suffredin introduced Richard Morbidoni,
Superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County, and
explained that Mr. Morbidoni would report to the Committee regarding veterans’
services and programs in which the County is involved.
Mr. Morbidoni outlined the services to veterans currently
offered by the Veterans Assistance Commission.
They offer transportation services to veterans enrolled in outpatient
programs at Hines and
Chairman Suffredin inquired as to the source of the funding
for these programs.
Mr. Morbidoni responded that
Chairman Suffredin asked how the County’s Veterans
Assistance Commission interacts with the State of
Mr. Morbidoni replied that they really don’t, however, he
indicated that he would like to partner up with other local, state and federal
entities to enhance services to veterans.
Chairman Suffredin stated that last year the Illinois
General Assembly passed a Bill to provide veterans with a form of health care
protection overlaying the federal Veterans Administration benefits. He asked if Mr. Morbidoni had worked with the
state to identify eligible veterans who may be receiving health care services
at Stroger, Provident or Oak Forest Hospitals, because as a result of the
passage of this Bill, the County may find additional reimbursement
opportunities from the State for health care services provided to veterans.
Mr. Morbidoni stated that they had not yet worked with the State
on that issue, but that he was willing to do so.
Commissioner Schneider inquired as to the total budget
allocated to the Veterans Assistance Commission.
Mr. Morbidoni replied that it is $500,000, half of which
goes to office expenses and salaries.
Chairman Suffredin introduced Stewart Reeve, Chief of Staff
to Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth.
Mr. Reeve introduced his colleague, Christine Glunz, who is
Deputy Chief of Staff at the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Mr. Reeve and Ms. Glunz provided the Committee members with
an overview of the programs offered by the Illinois Department of Veterans’
Affairs.
Mr. Reeve began by stating the mission of the Department of
Veterans’ Affairs: to ensure that
returning veterans or veterans who have already returned from conflict or
service to the nation are properly signed up with their dependents and/or
survivors for the respective education, health care, or other such veterans’
opportunities available.
Mr. Reeve stated that there are currently seventy-three
veterans’ service officers in fifty-one offices across the State. In
Ms. Glunz reviewed the programs offered by the State. (See
Attachment #1.)
Chairman Suffredin asked Mr. Morbidoni to work with the
state to continue outreach to veterans.
He also suggested interaction between the Veterans Assistance
Commission, the President’s Office of Employment Training and the Bureau of
Health to ensure that all possible opportunities can be made available to
veterans.
Chairman Suffredin mentioned pending legislation in
Vice Chairman
Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Murphy, moved the approval of Communication
No. 287221. The motion carried.
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287226 |
RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN ADVISORY REFERENDUM ON PROPOSED RESOLUTION WHEREAS, George Washington declared, “The
willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no
matter how justified, shall be directly proportionate to how they perceive
the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their country”;
and WHEREAS, when the United States military
has been called upon to send forces into harms way, our brave young men and
women in uniform have dutifully answered the call to service; and WHEREAS, many of those who have served our
nation are residents of our great WHEREAS, many of those who have served this
great nation with honor and dignity now find themselves without adequate
medical care as a result of funding inequities; and WHEREAS, it is unconscionable for us, as a
nation, to ask for soldiers to be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for
freedom, and then allow them to receive substandard medical care upon their
return home; and WHEREAS, ensuring that all honorably
discharged U.S. veterans have access to the very best medical care available
is a small price to pay for the service these men and women give to our
nation and the rest of the world; and WHEREAS, today it is more important than
ever to ensure that our veterans have access to excellent health care; and WHEREAS, the voters of Cook County,
Illinois should be permitted to voice their opinion as to whether the federal
government should provide the funding that our veterans need in order to
receive the best possible care; and WHEREAS, it is deemed to be in the public
interest to submit this question of policy to the voters of NOW, THEREFORE, BE
IT RESOLVED THAT: Section 1.
The following question of public policy shall be submitted to the
voters of “Shall the federal government be required
to allocate existing funds for the purpose of ensuring that all honorably
discharged Section 2.
This advisory referendum shall be conducted in accordance with
provisions of the Illinois Election Code pertaining to the conduct of the
primary election scheduled for Section 3.
This Resolution shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and
approval. * Referred
to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations on |
AMENDMENT TO PROPOSED RESOLUTION (COMMUNICATION NO. 287226)
Sponsored by
THE HONORABLE ANTHONY J. PERAICA, COOK
WHEREAS, George
Washington declared, “The willingness with which our young people are likely to
serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportionate to
how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by
their country”; and
WHEREAS, when
the United States military has been called upon to send forces into harms way,
our brave young men and women in uniform have dutifully answered the call to
service; and
WHEREAS, many
of those who have served our nation are residents of our great
WHEREAS, many
of those who have served this great nation with honor and dignity now find
themselves without adequate medical care as a result of funding inequities;
and
WHEREAS, it
is unconscionable for us, as a nation, to ask for soldiers United
States uniformed military to be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for
freedom, and then allow them to receive substandard medical care upon their
return home; and
WHEREAS, ensuring
that all honorably discharged U.S. veterans have access to the very best
medical care available is a small price to pay for the service these men and
women give to our nation and the rest of the world; and
WHEREAS, today
it is more important than ever to ensure that our veterans have access to
excellent health care; and
WHEREAS, the
voters of Cook County, Illinois should be permitted to voice their opinion as
to whether the federal government should provide the funding that our veterans
need in order to receive the best possible care; and
WHEREAS, it
is deemed to be in the public interest to submit this question of policy to the
voters of
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
Section 1. The following question of public policy shall
be submitted to the voters of
“Shall the federal government be
required to allocate existing funds adopt mandatory full funding of
the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of ensuring that all eligible
honorably discharged U.S. veterans receive mandatory, fully-funded and equal
benefits quality and accessible healthcare and related services?”
Section 2. This advisory referendum shall be conducted
in accordance with provisions of the Illinois Election Code pertaining to the
conduct of the primary election scheduled for
Section 3. This Resolution shall be in full force and
effect upon its passage and approval.
Vice Chairman
Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Daley, moved to approve the Amendment to Communication
No. 287226. The motion carried.
Vice Chairman
Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Sims, moved to approve Communication No.
287226, as amended. The motion carried.
Commissioner Gorman requested to be added as a co-sponsor to
Communication Numbers 287221 and 287226.
Chairman Suffredin stated for the record that the principal
sponsor of the referendum, Commissioner Peraica, was unable to attend the
meeting due to a prior engagement and because the Board Meeting had gone longer
than expected.
Chairman Suffredin asked the Secretary to the Board to call
upon the registered public speakers.
1.
George
Blakemore Concerned Citizen
2.
John
Blanchard Executive Director,
NASA Educational Corp.
3.
John
H. Monaghan, Jr. Veteran
4.
Ray
Parrish Veteran and
Counselor,
5.
George
M. Isdale, Jr. VAC Commander
6.
David
J. Rogers Executive
Director, Vet Net/Coalition of Veterans Organizations
7.
Marie
C. Saponaro Concerned Citizen
Commissioner Daley
moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Sims. The motion carried and the meeting was
adjourned.
YOUR COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ACTION
WITH REGARD TO THE
MATTERS NAMED HEREIN:
Communication Number 287221 Approved
Communication Number 287226 Approved
as Amended
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Respectfully
submitted, Committee
on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Larry
Suffredin, Chairman |
Attest:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Matthew B.
DeLeon, Secretary
** The audio recording for this meeting is available from
the Office of the Secretary to the Board,