Coming home: troops returning from overseas and veterans are getting a hand from states in finding jobs, justice and the support they deserve.

• Author: Reed, James B.
• Position: MILITARY AFFAIRS

There are 2.3 million veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Tens of thousands of additional troops are now returning home as the American presence in both countries winds down.

This homecoming is a challenge to vets, service members and society for several reasons. The number of people suffering psychological trauma from the current wars has skyrocketed, and not all those coming home know about or make use of the benefits to which they are entitled.

At the same time, hefty cuts are looming for the U.S. defense budget over the next several years. State and local governments will feel the pain.

States and communities are gearing up to meet the needs of this growing veteran community. At the same time, state lawmakers are working to protect existing military installations from development and incompatible land uses that could cause the military to pack up and leave.

Various federal agencies are primarily responsible for the post-deployment needs of returning service members and veterans, particularly providing health care and mental health benefits. States, however, have an increasingly important role, providing services that range from education benefits to unemployment compensation, and also granting waivers from taxes and fees for a variety of services.

Lawmakers passed nearly 300 bills in 2011 to help veterans, adding to the 225 enacted in 2010. So far this year, several hundred bills have been introduced aimed at helping vets and active members of the military.

In Texas, Representative Dan Flynn (R), chair of the Military Caucus, is emphatic about stepping up the state effort. "I'm working to ensure the maximum effort is I made to give troops returning home the support they need as they reintegrate into daily life," Flynn says.

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He introduced successful legislation last session to strengthen the right to reemployment for members of the military forces of Texas or any other state upon return from authorized duty. Numerous states offer employment protection for deployed National Guard members, mirroring or strengthening the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act of 1994, which protects the civilian jobs of those deployed. A new trend is to give tax credits to employers who hire veterans. Developing call centers for transportation assistance and providing free or reduced fares for veterans who are using public transportation are increasingly common, as well.

The list goes on:

* Foreclosure protection.

* Income tax reductions, credits or exemptions.

* Reduced college tuition.

* Waivers from certain fees and taxes, such as state parks admission or special license plates.

* Residential property tax exemptions for disabled veterans.

* Free or reduced fees for hunting and fishing licenses.

Employment Is Key

All levels of government are looking to ease the transition to civilian employment for those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Several federal agencies not only pay for job training and placement, but also give veterans...