[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6367255,"mediaKeyId","2158922-8ca50e680b4f839b7c802970cbb28533","parentId",2158922,"title","Committee unanimously advances bill to extend Pennsylvania veteran benefits to naturalized Korean service members who fought in Vietnam","audioSeconds",184,"startMs",1896000,"endMs",2080000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158922-8ca50e680b4f839b7c802970cbb28533&start=1896&end=2080","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158922-8ca50e680b4f839b7c802970cbb28533/thumbnail_1896000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6367255/Pennsylvania/Committee-unanimously-advances-bill-to-extend-Pennsylvania-veteran-benefits-to-naturalized-Korean-service-members-who-fought-in-Vietnam","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367255-5b80a5c3f56025eb85f943bbe65accc2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771042032&Signature=ByVSG6I2yCUEa1ki2TRZgtoDhmP-S9KAJu3ffdSJZY8aUO86en4YdH3eZypslrgn1CwQQf~7BWY~3eKBjhqYAEGLotuP1SHmQONAMzfi3cjat8gejE4bjHTGAt5KOrvg1lZYtPWMAJ4YhlwvNy6APlfvZWl4XgHBylwpMVYB4od49o~xiDE5oD9jZFdNPUxINjlxdfdphNnGUxnfBl-OQ96f9d5QaJgBSlrYWXqpwqeppP5ltrW8gs86mOyndqyyTQWij1pYwjxBmh2692J-snbxymufCT7ukARvJdesRIJsZsBtxa9VQQS7c8FtvnNl3dYtmzZcLWIs-0-XFEIqhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pa. House Video","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","The Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee unanimously approved House Bill 304 to extend Pennsylvania-level rights and benefits to naturalized citizens who served in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and will forward the bill to the full House.

Representative Sara Serrato presented the measure to the committee and said the 2023 federal Korean American Valor Act extended certain VA benefits at the federal level to this population and that Pennsylvania should follow suit. Serrato told the committee the Korean American Veterans of the Vietnam War nonprofit estimates roughly 3,000 Korean veterans who served in Vietnam are living in the United States today, and that about 400 of those reside in Pennsylvania and the Northeast. The bill would allow Commonwealth agencies and departments to request supporting documentation to determine eligibility for state recognition and benefits.

Serrato also cited a Senate fiscal note filed in the prior (2023–2024) session that quoted the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs as saying any costs associated with extending eligibility would be \"minimal and manageable\" within the department’s existing workload and budget.

Co-chair Jared Gillen praised the proposal and noted the large number of South Korean soldiers who fought alongside U.S. troops in South Vietnam, saying the Commonwealth has a duty to honor and support those who served. With no negative votes raised, Chairman Jared Solomon announced the bill passed the committee unanimously and would move to the House floor for further consideration.

No roll-call tally of individual yea or nay votes was recorded in committee minutes; the committee recorded the measure as passing unanimously.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee -- January 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee unanimously approved House Bill 304 to extend Pennsylvania-level veteran rights and benefits to naturalized citizens who served in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces during the Vietnam War, forwarding the bill to the full House.","taxTitle","Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness, House of Representatives, Legislative, Pennsylvania","taxId",29249,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6367262,"Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness committee organizes for 2025–26 session, sets veterans retention and 2026 preparedness review as priorities",93,1748000,1841000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158922-8ca50e680b4f839b7c802970cbb28533&start=1748&end=1841","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158922-8ca50e680b4f839b7c802970cbb28533/thumbnail_1748000.jpg","/articles/6367262/Pennsylvania/Veterans-Affairs-Emergency-Preparedness-committee-organizes-for-202526-session-sets-veterans-retention-and-2026-preparedness-review-as-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367262-fa7300a55146b6bf0f43ddbe7a5e7230/orig.mp4?Expires=1771042032&Signature=ev~6C26INN3OiMewftVeH~3FQg5XRbI9ZBwoOasE7iRYd7-oPt4oDl21FdniGCbySETp9tK3hZ4ue5oGwuxO9U8AHAXhQEuOwNk7239YYToZUYAL85G8a5DppCMqmIkLu3exxUPwEPE34qCqKWANltjulZJeXRU1CNB2oeCo3PeWHS80Q2nsc9TpldBpLnesMKUvfE2Qw2MOLuZMFdh5XeCDQukwWC9jjTTFnxEhYWT-6ce4fQIW5H8otf8JVbkny02~tsTbK8xR5nGo15DfQ-FjHLYxI5MN62VsAPWhCs4YU55ECyGQk-9zHg9JXE1o5IsZ0tdWadL-DnxKqvAEIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pennsylvania House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee formally organized for the 2025–2026 legislative session and set priorities that include moving bills stalled last session, pursuing policies aimed at retaining and attracting veterans to the Commonwealth, and taking stock of emergency-preparedness infrastructure in advance of the 2026 U.S. semiquincentennial.

Chairman Jared Solomon told members the committee will focus its first two to three meetings on legislation that did not advance in the Senate last session and asked members to submit policy priorities for the committee to consider. He urged members to work directly with the co-chairs and staff and noted that the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) is finishing drafting several measures that the committee will take up once complete.

Solomon also reviewed procedural rules the committee will follow. The committee will operate under the standard committee operating rules referenced in House Rules 1(c) through 4(c), he said, and he reminded members that House Rule 3(c) sets deadlines for amendments to be filed with his office for consideration at meetings. He said he will notify the Speaker of the House that the committee is organized for the session.

Co-chair Jared Gillen and committee staff introduced themselves. Staff and members described the committee as bipartisan and frequently focused on volunteer fire, EMS and veterans service issues. Solomon outlined two policy themes the committee will prioritize this year: legislation aimed at retaining veterans and making Pennsylvania competitive in recruiting veterans from other states, and an assessment of emergency-preparedness infrastructure ahead of 2026.

Members were invited to propose legislation and meet with the chairs to discuss bills they want the committee to advance. Solomon said the goal is to move as many bills as possible to the governor’s desk and to schedule signings where appropriate.

The committee also completed paperwork and affirmed it had a quorum to conduct business. No formal motions were recorded during the organizational remarks beyond the later votes on specific measures taken during the same meeting.

The chairs said the committee’s next meetings will concentrate on the bills carried over from the prior session and on the items they highlighted as priorities.","The Pennsylvania House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee organized for the 2025–2026 legislative session, adopted standard operating rules and said its early meetings will focus on carrying over stalled bills, veteran retention measures and an emergency-preparedness review ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6367249,"Committee adopts resolution designating March 25, 2025, as National Medal of Honor Day in Pennsylvania",166,2123000,2289000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158922-8ca50e680b4f839b7c802970cbb28533&start=2123&end=2289","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158922-8ca50e680b4f839b7c802970cbb28533/thumbnail_2123000.jpg","/articles/6367249/Pennsylvania/Committee-adopts-resolution-designating-March-25-2025-as-National-Medal-of-Honor-Day-in-Pennsylvania","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367249-3045d415c8af54a473ddcec573e60bbb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771042032&Signature=NNo7YGn6IUXVArOczhl~3WciOWQSzxR4DklgljcyN9gxkMntzfPRC2GXjDKc-N2rLRKjdb8oECmlzRJ9EltBddAMeVjz5a5eeLKNKtsxMTXfkFOUAs7bEO7qTeWTHaVAnXOgp0VV9Z~38GA5qAXEB2YqYpA0Gu1fN0qeUOk46Ov20t34FCp9yaedFekD8c80CCpIwavM8jixf3VufWnQnSlJZyT0Q8WzGan81LctRR7D5S~0pFlAiwMnQO2KFlatc-Ff1MN9KGfhPoMuLspAjkXfy9V3dXpAFSnBA3ExItcgjEwXD5L~ZKy0LzBcY~7LCh2gfLny6olv~ibW5kUJbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee unanimously adopted House Resolution 2 declaring March 25, 2025, National Medal of Honor Day in Pennsylvania and will forward the resolution to the House floor.

Representative Ouattro presented the resolution and said there are, in the presenter’s words, 3,517 Medal of Honor recipients nationwide and that more than one in 10 of those recipients are Pennsylvania natives; the presenter stated the Commonwealth has 378 Medal of Honor recipients, second only to New York in number. Ouattro asked members to support recognizing and remembering those recipients.

Ouattro called attention to a section of the Capitol Complex known as Soldiers and Sailors Grove, which contains the Commonwealth’s Medal of Honor memorial. Co-chair Jared Gillen referenced a memorial stone there and the Etchberger Veterans Center in Berks County as examples of places that enshrine the memory of Pennsylvanians who have been awarded the Medal of Honor. Gillen described the resolution as an act of remembering the service and sacrifice of those who served.

With no negative votes, Chairman Jared Solomon announced the resolution passed unanimously and will move to the House floor. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting transcript; the action is listed as unanimous.","The Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee unanimously adopted House Resolution 2, designating March 25, 2025, as National Medal of Honor Day in the Commonwealth and highlighting the Soldiers and Sailors Grove Medal of Honor memorial and the Etchberger Veterans Center in Berks County.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee unanimously advances bill to extend Pennsylvania veteran benefits to naturalized Korean service members who fought in Vietnam

Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness committee organizes for 2025–26 session, sets veterans retention and 2026 preparedness review as priorities

Committee adopts resolution designating March 25, 2025, as National Medal of Honor Day in Pennsylvania