Bill would protect military, veterans from discrimination

OLYMPIA – Washington State soldiers are battling an unseen enemy in their hometowns – discrimination.

State lawmakers want to provide them with the weapon they need to win this battle.

A proposed bill would add veterans and people with military status to an existing law banning discrimination in matters of employment, credit, insurance and property transactions.

“Unfortunately, some Washingtonians have vented their anger about the Iraq war onto the men and women who followed orders and put their lives on the line,” said bill author Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens.

“We need to protect those who have protected us,” he said.

The Senate Committee on Government Operations and Elections passed the bill unanimously Tuesday.

If it becomes law, Washington will be the fifth state to enact such legislation.

Skip Dreps, director of the Northwest Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, spoke Tuesday of a 25-year-old Iraq veteran who had sought work as an office clerk at a community college.

“They didn’t even bother to return his letter of application,” Dreps told the committee.

The veteran he spoke of had received an Army Commendation Medal and multiple Bronze Stars during his service. The man now lives in Dreps’ basement, he said.

“We couldn’t help him because currently there is no discrimination law for veterans,” said Dreps.

The frequency of cases of veteran or military discrimination is relatively low.

There are approximately 670,000 veterans residing in Washington. Tom Pearson, director of Veterans’ Employment Training at the Department of Labor and Industries, estimates that his department deals with 20 to 30 cases a year.

But for those affected, this legislation could make all the difference.

“When you are the person being discriminated against, it is a meaningful thing to you,” said Bryon Burgess, executive director of employment support for the Guard and Reserve.

John Lee, chief of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, said the legislation would make a statement to employers.

“If we have even a couple cases, this sends a profound message that it is not acceptable,” he said.

Veteran issues are a hot topic in the Legislature this session. Lawmakers have introduced at least nine bills so far to assist veterans in employment, housing and education.

The anti-discrimination bill could be heard on the Senate floor as early as Friday.

“We want to do what it takes to make sure that veterans get awarded the honor of equal treatment after serving their country,” said Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn.

Reporter Whitney Cork: 360-352-8624 or wcork@heraldnet.com.