44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO VETERANS' SERVICE COMMISSION TO DISSEMINATE TO ALL VETERANS, FAMILIES OF VETERANS AND NEW MEXICO VETERAN ASSOCIATIONS INFORMATION ON A NEW BILL PASSED BY THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS ENTITLING VETERANS TO A DIVIDEND ON GI INSURANCE.

WHEREAS, the United States congress recently passed a bill entitling veterans to a dividend on the GI insurance they had while in the military service; and

WHEREAS, both current and former military personnel are entitled to this dividend regardless of whether or not the veteran still carries the insurance; and

WHEREAS, if a veteran is eligible for this dividend, he will not receive a dividend or a notice of a possible dividend unless he asks for it from the United States veterans administration; and

WHEREAS, the United States veterans administration will review each individual case and determine eligibility for dividend disbursement; and

WHEREAS, a general schedule of dividends earned is as follows: two years of service, two hundred sixty-one dollars ($261); three years of service, three hundred ninety-one dollars ($391); and four years of service, five hundred twenty-eight dollars ($528); and

WHEREAS, to apply for a dividend, a veteran or any relative of the veteran may write to the Veterans Center, P.O. Box 8079, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101; and

WHEREAS, if a veteran or his relative writes to the veterans center he must include his name, address, GI insurance number, branch of service, date of birth, date of military service and, if possible, a copy of a DD form 214 to attach to the letter; and

WHEREAS, a sample letter might read as follows: "Dear Sir: In accordance with the bill recently passed by the United States congress, I am applying for the SGLI insurance dividend based on military service. The specifics of my service are as follows:"; and

WHEREAS, it is important for a veteran to remember that the United States veterans administration will not automatically send him a dividend the veteran or any relative of the veteran must apply for the dividend;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico veterans' service commission be requested to disseminate to all veterans, families of veterans and New Mexico veterans associations information on a new bill passed by the United States congress entitling veterans to a dividend on GI insurance as well as all information contained in this memorial; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the director and each commissioner of the New Mexico veterans' service commission and to representatives of each New Mexico veterans association.