File #: Res 0938-2015    Version: * Name: New York Restoration of Honor Act (S.6087)
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Veterans
On agenda: 12/16/2015
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling on the State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign S.6087, the New York Restoration of Honor Act
Sponsors: James G. Van Bramer, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Costa G. Constantinides, Vincent J. Gentile, Brad S. Lander, Ydanis A. Rodriguez, I. Daneek Miller, Paul A. Vallone, Andrew Cohen, Stephen T. Levin, Ben Kallos, Eric A. Ulrich
Council Member Sponsors: 12
Attachments: 1. Committee Report 12/14/15, 2. Hearing Testimony 12/14/15, 3. Hearing Transcript 12/14/15, 4. December 16, 2015 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 5. Committee Report 1/13/16, 6. Hearing Testimony 1/13/16, 7. Hearing Transcript 1/13/16, 8. January 19, 2016 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 9. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 1-19-16, 10. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - January 19, 2016
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
1/19/2016*James G. Van Bramer City Council Approved, by CouncilPass Action details Meeting details Not available
1/13/2016*James G. Van Bramer Committee on Veterans Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
1/13/2016*James G. Van Bramer Committee on Veterans Approved by CommitteePass Action details Meeting details Not available
12/16/2015*James G. Van Bramer City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
12/16/2015*James G. Van Bramer City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
12/14/2015*James G. Van Bramer Committee on Veterans Hearing on P-C Item by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
12/14/2015*James G. Van Bramer Committee on Veterans P-C Item Laid Over by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available

Res. No. 938

 

Resolution calling on the State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign S.6087, the New York Restoration of Honor Act

 

By Council Members Van Bramer, the Speaker (Council Member Mark-Viverito), Constantinides, Gentile, Lander, Rodriguez, Miller, Vallone, Cohen, Levin, Kallos and Ulrich 

 

Whereas, With the end of the military' s "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in 2011, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) service members are now able to serve openly for the first time, but generations of veterans in New York and across the country continue to be ineligible for a host of state and federal programs; and

Whereas, More than 50 New York State benefits offered to veterans are contingent upon an honorable discharge status, according to a report from State Senator Brad Hoylman; and

Whereas, New York State benefits available to veterans with an honorable discharge status include access to educational and employment programs, property tax exemptions, pension credit for military service, and eligibility to be buried in a veterans’ cemetery; and

Whereas, Roughly 114,000 United States (U.S.) service members have been discharged for their sexual orientation  or gender identity since World  War  II, according to that report; and

Whereas, Veterans who were discharged for their sexual orientation or gender identity did not receive an honorable discharge status; and

Whereas The federal government has not yet acted to comprehensively restore the discharge status of LGBT veterans who were discharged prior to the repeal of  Don't  Ask, Don't Tell; and

Whereas, In November 2015, New York State Senator Brad Hoylman introduced S. 6087, The New York Restoration of Honor Act, which would make veterans who received a less than honorable discharge status due to their sexual orientation  or gender identity eligible for New York State veterans'  benefits; and

Whereas, According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 200,000 veterans reside in New York City; and

Whereas, All veterans who have honorably served their country, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, should be entitled to programs, benefits, and services earned from their military service; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign S.6087, the  New York  Restoration  of Honor  Act.

 

RM/ENB

LS 5463

12/3/2015