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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| State Rep. Neal P. Goodman
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Goodman amendment to increase Blind Veterans Pension
wins committee approval
HARRISBURG, May 23 – State Rep. Neal P. Goodman's amendment that would increase Pennsylvania's Blind Veterans Pension from $150 to $200 per month was adopted by the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee today.
"Fighting in a desert environment can be harmful to the eyes," said Goodman, D-Schuylkill. "It is anticipated that many who served in Iraq and Afghanistan will be returning from the wars with eye injuries, including blindness. This legislation is an important way to help these veterans who fought for our freedom, as well as all veterans who have fought for us and suffered service-connected blindness."
Goodman, a Marine Corps veteran, said Pennsylvania's blind pension payment was last revised in 1999, when it was increased from $100 to $150 per month.
The blind pension program helps Pennsylvania residents who entered the military, served honorably and suffered a service-connected injury or incurred a disease which resulted in loss of vision to the extent the veteran has 3/60 or 10/200 or less normal vision.
The amendment is supported by the Blinded Veterans of America.
Goodman's measure amended H.B. 305, which would increase the monthly paralyzed veteran's pension payment from $150 per month to $200 per month for paralyzed veterans rated with a 100 percent service-connected disability as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Goodman supports the bill, which was reported out of committee today and is now in a position to be considered by the full House of Representatives.