he Massachusetts Legislature is poised to send an omnibus bill to the Governor that would provide veterans, service members and their families with greater compensation and additional benefits.

Since October 2001, approximately 18,000 Massachusetts residents have returned home from active duty, having heroically and nobly serving in the "War on Terror." Members of the Massachusetts National Guard and reservists account for an unprecedented percentage of the current force in Iraq.

Many National Guard and Reserve soldiers earn less while on active duty than they do at their civilian place of employment, and some private and public employers do not make up the difference between soldiers' military pay and their civilian pay. With extended tours of duty, some up to two years, many families are experiencing severe financial hardship.

"The Welcome Home Bill" also includes the establishment of the Military Family Relief Fund through an income tax check-off box to help military families in need. Senator Pam Resor, D-Acton, lead sponsor of Senate Bill 2009 which would create this fund said, "I am so pleased to see this bill passed as part of "The Welcome Home Bill"." The act to create a Military Family Relief Fund would create a voluntary check-off box on the state income tax form enabling taxpayers to donate directly to the fund.

"It has been my goal to see this bill pass in time for a new "check-off" box to appear on the Commonwealth's 2005 tax returns, so that the generous citizens of this state can use this mechanism to support the families of Massachusetts National Guard members and Reservists experiencing unexpected financial hardships as they are called to active duty," Senator Resor continued. "For too long we have not done enough to make sure that our veterans, servicemen and their families are well taken care of while they are called away to duty and once they return home."

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