Rep. Cramer introduces bill to help service members prepare for civilian life

WASHINGTON — Service members who are about to leave the military may soon have someone to help them prepare to reenter civilian life, if a new federal bill gets enough support from members of congress.

If passed, the new bill would require the military to give pre-separation counseling to service members leaving the military.

While the military has advised leaving service members to prepare to reenter civilian life and learn what benefits are available to them and how they can access them.

Along with counseling, the Transition Assistance Program would include a presentation promoting the benefits available to veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The bill is sponsored by U.S. Representative for North Dakota Kevin Cramer and U.S. Senator Angus King (I) of Maine. The bill has bi-partisan support, with several democrates co-sponsoring the bill.

“State and county veteran service officers, or VSOs, they’re often the first ones to help veterans access benefits that the veterans themselves have earned. I think it’s important to always remember that,” Cramer said. “They’ve earned these benefits. What our bill does is it makes sure that they’re part of the process from the start and not brought in after a veteran is already out the door.”