Res. No. 802 Title Resolution supporting S. 3283-A, which will institute the "NY-USA Proud" program and the "Patriot Support and Discount Program", and calling for the New York State Assembly to pass a similar bill. Body By Council Members Nelson, Comrie, Gerson, McMahon and Reed Whereas, S. 3283-A is an act to provide new and enhanced benefits to New York military personnel that will minimize the disruptions that military activation may cause in the lives of such personnel and their families; and Whereas, This bill will institute the "NY-USA Proud" program and the "Patriot Support and Discount Program" which will recognize the support and benefits companies provide to military personnel whereas no such economic incentive exists under current Economic Development Law; and Whereas, This bill will establish a War on Terrorism Scholarship available to military personnel, their spouses, and children and dependents of military personnel who died or became severely disabled in active duty on or after September 11, 2001, taking into consideration that there are currently no scholarships specifically designated for military personnel called to duty in the war on terrorism; and Whereas, This bill will establish a leave of absence for military personnel who are called to active duty while enrolled in school, preserving educational status and financial resources that might be unfairly appropriated under existing Education Law when students withdraw from an educational institution to serve their country; and Whereas, This bill will establish the Governor's authority to temporarily suspend provisions of statutes, local laws and ordinances when members of the reserve armed forces are ordered to active duty, helping to support existing Executive Law prohibiting discrimination; and Whereas, This bill will authorize local veterans' service agencies to ensure that families of military personnel are aware of the benefits and services available to them under the law, expanding the services such agencies currently provide to families of those serving our country; and Whereas, This bill will authorize the Commissioner of the Department of Health to extend certification for medical technicians who have been called to active duty, as was done during the Persian Gulf Crisis; and Whereas, Recognizing the great sacrifice that American citizens are making fighting the war in Iraq, New York should play its part in easing the burden of the military personnel's obligations at home in order to help facilitate a more effective military with higher morale; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York supports S. 3283-A, which will institute the "NY-USA Proud" program and the "Patriot Support and Discount Program", and calling for the New York State Assembly to pass a similar bill. .