Veterans
A strong supporter of the military and veterans, Kirk has introduced some 83 pieces of legislation in support of veterans, the military, and their families. His efforts in this area started in 1994 when he introduced legislation to permit persons holding military privately-owned vehicle driver’s license issued by the Department of Defense to drive without Virginia driver’s licenses for their first 30 days of residency in Virginia. This was followed in 1996 when he was one of the first legislators in the country to introduce legislation to provide tax relief to military personnel serving in Bosnia. That same year, he introduced landmark legislation to provide tax relief for junior military members from Virginia.
Kirk’s efforts to provide income tax relief to lower ranking military personnel took four years to accomplish. Like our men and women in uniform, he did not give up until his mission was accomplished. His foresight provided authority for building and later for the expansion for the Sitter & Barfoot Health Care Center that enabled Virginia to take advantage of federal funds when they became available. He also introduced legislation providing for authority for a 240-bed Veterans Care Center in the Hampton Roads area, funding and recognition of the Quartermaster Museum at Fort Lee, and several bills and budget amendments that funded the expansion of the War Memorial into what is now the Paul and Phyllis Galanti Education Center.
Based on his strong and continuing support, Kirk is recognized as a leader in the General Assembly for military and veterans affairs. He is the chairman of the War of 1812 Commission, a member of the Board of Veteran Services, and serves on the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. He has also been a key source of advice and review for veterans services organizations such as the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and he has served as an advisor to the Joint Leadership Council (JLC). Over the years, he has been the chief patron for many of the JLC legislative objectives supported by 23 veterans’ services organizations representing 250,000 Virginia veterans.
In the 2008 Session, the General Assembly passed his Wounded Warrior legislation that provides support for veterans suffering brain and stress related injuries. In 2009, he was honored to carry other top priority legislative for the JLC – a $5.9 million budget amendment for the VA War Memorial Education Center. That same year, he introduced legislation and accompanying budget amendments for the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program and the Automated Veterans Claims System. The bills passed the General Assembly and were signed into law by Governor McDonnell. During the 2010 Session, Kirk successfully sponsored bills to provide free fishing licenses for disabled active duty military personnel and funding to automate the claims processing process within the Department of Veteran Services.
In 2011, Kirk introduced legislation to increase the number of claims representatives in the Department of Veterans Services. Another bill provided authorization for the Department of Human Resource Management to offer coverage under the state’s cafeteria health plan to military retirees and their dependents that are eligible for benefits under the TRICARE Military Health System supplemental health plan. His budget amendments provided funding for the additional claims representatives to utilize rail to move troops between Fort Lee – Fort A.P. Hill, and he led the effort to fund the 40-bed expansion at the Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center in Richmond.
