Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today called on the Assembly Majority to bring a bill to the floor that would allow honorably-discharged veterans to purchase up to three years of active military service from the state and have it count toward their pension and retirement benefits. Hawley sponsors this legislation and said we can never do too much to repay New York’s veterans for their years of service.

“As the son of a veteran and veteran myself, I understand the importance of this legislation,” Hawley said. “Currently, only veterans who have served during certain conflicts and wars are given this opportunity, and that unfairly alienates those who have valiantly and honorably served our nation at home and abroad. This legislation overwhelmingly passed the Assembly last year with 133 votes from both sides of the aisle and unanimously passed the Senate this week. I am calling on my legislative colleagues in the Majority to follow the Senate’s example and bring this bill to the floor for a vote. New York’s veterans deserve the utmost privilege and opportunity.”

Assembly Bill 4313-A has 107 bi-partisan sponsors but is slightly different from the Senate version due to a $31.5 million appropriation to cover state costs of the program. Hawley is a longtime advocate for veterans and currently serves as Ranking Minority Member of the Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. He served in the Ohio Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves.