Members of the Connecticut State Council of Machinists recently took up the fight for military veterans benefits by testifying in support of legislative measures to fully exempt certain totally and permanently disabled veterans from property tax.
Taylor Salman, an IAM District 26 Steward and Recording Secretary, U.S. Navy veteran and IAM Veterans Services Steering Committee member, submitted written testimony in support of House Bill No. 5405 that would establish a task force to study providing a property tax exemption to certain permanently and totally disabled veterans.
Mark Nati, an IAM District 26 Connecticut State Council of Machinists member and U.S. Marine Corps. veteran, submitted written testimony and testified in person before the Connecticut General Assembly’s Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee in support of the same bill.
A little over a week after Salman’s and Nati’s testimonies for H.B. 5405, the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee introduced H.B. 5491, which would establish a property tax exemption for veterans who have a service-connected permanent and total disability rating as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
Nati says that both bills appear to have significant support.
“If this proceeds, it will be huge considering not every state has this great benefit in place,” said IAM Veterans Services Coordinator Rich Evans.
The public hearing for H.B. 5491 occurred on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, and Evans wrote a letter of support to the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.
“The IAM has over 10,000 members with a sizable percentage of those members being Veterans. Our union’s roots run deep in Connecticut, and we support legislation that can help workers and families prosper and support the state’s continued growth and success,” reads Evans’ letter.
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