A bill that would provide a “steady stream of funding” for veterans and their families by leasing out land around Fort Indiantown Gap has passed the state Senate and has moved into the state House of Representatives for consideration.
Senate Bill 1192, which was introduced in April by state Senator Chris Gebhard (R-48th), will “improve the quality of life for service members, veterans and their families by creating and funding the Service Member Veterans and Their Families Fund (SMVF Fund),” according to a press release from Gebhard’s office.
Alex Gamble, communications coordinator for Gebhard, told LebTown in an email that the senator met with officials with FTIG and the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, “who brought up the issue in the beginning of the year.” Officials collaborated on the legislation, Gamble said, which was introduced to the Senate on April 25, went through the committee process, and passed the full Senate on Wednesday, June 26.
The bill was sent for consideration to the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee in May and the Appropriations Committee in June before coming back to the full Senate for a vote. According to a fiscal note filed by the Appropriations Committee, “enactment of this legislation will have no fiscal impact” on taxpayer money, as any costs “will be paid for with funds generated” through leasing at FTIG.
According to the release, the bill if passed would allow the DMVA to lease real estate at Fort Indiantown Gap and use the proceeds to fund the SMVF Fund.
“My bill is a significant step forward in our commitment to the welfare and support of our service members, veterans and their families,” Gebhard said in a statement. “It will help ensure our military community receives the support and resources it needs to thrive.”
The SMVF Fund “would be dedicated to paying for quality-of-life programs – including physical fitness, personal growth, social interaction and recreational activities – for the military community,” the release explained. “The programs would be designed to support the readiness and well-being of the service members, veterans and their families.”
Gebhard noted in his statement that “there is land around Fort Indiantown Gap that’s outside the base and will never be utilized for training purposes, so allowing the land to be leased to fund this important program makes sense.”
“Similar to what other military bases do to fund their Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs, leasing land to businesses is mutually supportive to the community and our servicemembers.” Marc Ferraro, executive deputy secretary for the state DMVA, told LebTown in a statement. “Leasing unused land will ensure a steady stream of funding for the SMVF Fund that supports the men and women who sacrifice much for our commonwealth and country.”
Senate Bill 1192 also includes provisions for annual reporting on the revenues, expenditures and activities funded by the SMVF Fund, to better ensure transparency and accountability in the fund’s operations. The bill now goes to the state House for consideration.
Besides Gebhard, the bill was sponsored by senators Doug Mastriano (R-33rd), Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-27th), Elder A. Vogel Jr. (R-47th), James R. Brewster (D-45th), Cris Dush (R-25th), Tracy Pennycuick (R-24th), Judy Ward (R-30th), Devlin J. Robinson (R-37th), Greg Rothman (R-34th), and Nick Miller (D-14th).
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