Rep. Brad Klippert, R-Kennewick, has been appointed to the Joint Committee on Veterans' and Military Affairs, which includes members from both the Washington House and Senate.
Klippert, a Benton County sheriff's deputy serving his first term representing the 8th legislative district, is a helicopter pilot who recently was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He has served more than 21 years in the Army National Guard and Reserve.
The joint committee was created in 2001 and reviews veterans' issues and programs, the National Guard and Reserves, examines current laws, and makes policy recommendations to the Legislature.
The committee also studies the structure and administration of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs and the military department.
"It is an honor to be appointed to this committee," Klippert said in a statement. "I will work hard to provide a strong voice on this committee for our veterans and their families to ensure their issues get the full attention of the Legislature."
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Senators tell VA to speed up care for mentally ill veterans
Senators tell VA to speed up care for mentally ill veterans
WASHINGTON -- Senators gave a public scolding Wednesday to the director of mental health operations for the nation's veterans, saying the federal government must speed up services for those with post-traumatic stress disorder and other afflictions.
Faced with a 34 percent increase in the number of veterans who have sought mental health services since 2006, the Department of Veterans Affairs has not kept pace, said Democratic Sen. Patty Murray.
As a result, too many veterans are waiting far too long to get help, which is leading to a rash of suicides, increased drug abuse and other problems, said Murray, who heads the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.
TRIDEC chief on Hanford investment board
TRIDEC chief on Hanford investment board
The Washington State Department of Commerce announced this week that Carl Adrian, president and CEO of the Tri-City Development Council, was appointed to his first term on the Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Advisory Committee.
Adrian will represent Hanford-area businesses and the finance community. His term ends June 28, 2014.
The committee finances projects that expand and diversify local industry and create living wage jobs in Benton and Franklin counties, a news release said.
Commerce Department names board appointees
Commerce Department names board appointees
The Washington State Department of Commerce announced Friday who will fill positions on the Community Economic Revitalization Board and the Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Advisory Committee.
Among the appointments to the Community Economic Revitalization Board is Allen Brecke, owner of Allen Brecke Law Offices in Kennewick, who was appointed to serve a second term representing small businesses east of the Cascades. His term expires on Sept. 2, 2014.
Appointments to the Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Advisory Committee include Ed Revell, Richland mayor pro tem, who will serve a second term representing Richland; Larry Forsgren, general manager of KNDO and KNDU TV; Jerame Clough, with the Washington River Protection, who will serve a second term representing the Hanford labor community. Those terms end in June 2014.
2 Tri-City Veterans Day events planned today
2 Tri-City Veterans Day events planned today
Veterans Day will be observed at Columbia Memorial Gardens in Pasco and in Columbia Park in Kennewick today.
The Tri-Cities Memorial Committee is sponsoring its 10th observation of Veterans Day at 11 a.m. at the Regional Veterans Memorial. It is in the east end of Columbia Park near the Highway 240 exit. U.S. Naval Reserve Capt. Michael Terrell will speak.
The Veterans Day program at Columbia Memorial Gardens is at 11 a.m. near the flagpoles. The address is 224 S. 24th Ave.
Long past time
Long past time
It seems more than a little surprising to me, but the Washington state Legislature is finally getting around to repealing the 1951 Subversive Activities Act, passed in the middle of the post-war Red Scare, which created the notorious legislative Canwell Committee that conducted innumerable witch hunts that ran roughshod over the civil liberties of hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent Washingtonians in the 1950s.
HB 2251, sponsored by Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon of Burien, would finally repeal the long-dormant unconstitutional statute and consign it to the trash can where it belongs. Former U.S. Sen. Harry P. Cain, R-Wash., who worked so hard more than 50 years ago at the national level as a member of the Eisenhower Administration to counter similar abuses of power by Senator Joseph McCarthy, would be proud of him.
However, I am not surprised that one of our own legislators, Rep. Brad Klippert, is one of a small handful of Republican legislators opposing the law's repeal. Rather than fighting for our freedoms
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