Two veterans introduced by California Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia have advanced to the Senate. (Photo: Office of Eduardo Garcia)
On May 27, two veterans bills introduced by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) were advanced to the California Senate.
The first bill, AB 2032, would establish a “Green Alert emergency system” managed by the California Highway Patrol, or CHP, to combat veteran suicide in the state. Like existing Amber and Silver Alerts, and with proper cause, the CHP would be granted the power to issue an alert to the public for a veteran thought to be at risk for suicide.
The bill is currently expected to pass in the Senate, and if so, California would join a growing number of states adopting the Green Alert system. It is not clear how long it would take for the CHP to implement the new system.
Ending veteran suicide in California remains a top priority for policymakers. Earlier this month, the governor’s office announced a proposal to establish the California Veterans Health Initiative, or CVHI, which would evaluate current and future state policies, research, and management of care relating to veteran suicide in the state.
The second bill, AJR 19, would have the state of California formally call on the federal government to end the current policy of deporting veterans that are not U.S. citizens.
In a recent press release, Garcia notes, “it is unconscionable to deport our nation’s heroes to countries where they will lose accessibility to the veteran services they have earned and often to places where they have no memories and do not speak the language. Yet, upon their deaths, they can be brought back to the United States to be honored. We should honor their valiant contributions by allowing our servicemembers to stay in the country, their home that they fought to protect.”
If AJR 19 is passed in the Senate, California would only adopt an official stance in opposition to ending the federal process of deporting non-citizen U.S. veterans.
The California American Legion has compiled a full list of California veterans bills here.
Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.