THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 21, 2024 Page 3 Sen. Lewis and Massachusetts Senate pass HERO Act to support veterans Special to Th e Advocate O n June 13, 2024, State Senator Jason Lewis and his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed legislation to boost benefits, modernize services and promote inclusivity for veterans. The bill mandates supporting hundreds of thousands of individuals across the state who have served in the United States military, including nearly 30,000 women veterans and thousands of LGBTQ+ veterans. An Act honoring, empowering and recognizing our servicemembers and veterans – referred to as the HERO Act – would increase benefi ts for disabled veterans, bolster support for businesses that hire veterans, update the defi nition of a veteran, expand the scope of the Veterans Equality Review Board, codify medical and dental benefi ts, and more. On May 22, 2024, the House of Representatives had passed its own version of the HERO Act. The Massachusetts Legislature will now appoint a Conference Committee to reconcile diff erences between the versions of the HERO Act passed by the Senate and House before the legislation is sent to Governor Maura Healey for her signature or other actions. “Massachusetts has a strong record of supporting our nation’s veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much for us,” said Senator Lewis. “The HERO Act builds on previous legislation to ensure that we are doing as much as possible to meet our commitment to State Senator Jason Lewis at the Stoneham Field of Honor. (Courtesy photo) supporting those who have put the most on the line to defend our freedoms.” Some highlights of the HERO Act: 1. Veteran benefi ts expansion • Allows veterans to be reimbursed for visits to outpatient behavioral health providers. • Increases the annual annuity for veterans with a 100% service-connected disability, surviving spouses, or Gold Star Parents from $2,000 to $2,500. • Increases to $2,500 a tax credit for small businesses hiring chronically unemployed or low-income veterans • Lengthens the time frame for veterans in public service to participate in the active-duty service buyback program and allows retroactive participation for veterans who missed the buyback opportunity • Prevents the “COLA Cliff ”: ensures that a cost-of-living adjustment in Social Security benefi ts will not aff ect veterans’ eligibility for Chapter 115 benSaving Should Be Easy. Everett Bank’s 24-Month CD Makes It Simple. Get a worry-free 5.0% APY 24-Month CD, the perfect solution to build your savings and watch it grow. If you need flexibility, our 24-Month CD even makes a great IRA option. Great rates and peace of mind all in one CD from Everett Bank. Visit EverettBank.com to open an account online today! There’s Every Bank. Then There’s *Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate of the date posted and is subject to change without notice. APY assumes the interest remains on deposit until maturity. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. A minimum of $500 is required to open a Certificate of Deposit and earn the advertised APY. Member FDIC | Member DIF efi ts in the middle of the state fi scal year. • Increases local flexibility for veterans property tax exState Senator Jason Lewis (second from left) at a Wakefi eld Veterans Day event. (Courtesy photo) emptions: creates two separate local options. The first allows municipalities to double the veteran property tax exemption without doubling all othVETERANS | SEE PAGE 4
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