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Committee hears Bailey
military maternity support legislation
The House Children and
Family Services Committee today took testimony on a bill that would
exclude the military basic housing allowance from income in determining
eligibility for maternity support services.
Rep. Barbara Bailey, prime sponsor of House Bill 3064, says some members
of the military receive government-provided housing. However, those not
placed in military housing receive a "basic allowance" (BAH) of
additional income to cover their housing needs. The BAH is not taxable,
nor is it counted when determining a family’s eligibility for free and
reduced priced meals for school children. However, DSHS began to count
the BAH as income against maternity support services.
"Maternity support services offer low-income mothers important
counseling and education regarding breast feeding, nutrition, prenatal,
postpartum, and newborn development. Often in the military, these
mothers are by themselves. Their husbands are overseas. They need these
important maternity services," said Bailey, R-Oak Harbor. "Many had been
receiving these services. However, when the military privatized its
housing, it began to issue the allowance in lieu of housing, which
appeared on the paychecks of military families. The state counted that
income against these families that were receiving services."
Bailey, who serves the 10th District where the Whidbey Island Naval Air
Station is based, said she was made aware of the problem by a young
mother whose husband is in the military.
"She indicated how much this program meant to her, but that it was being
taken away. She didn’t know what she was going to do. Her husband was
deployed. She had no family support system. Many of these young families
do come to the area without any extended families or resources," Bailey
told the committee.
"It’s unfortunate that while the military was trying to help its people
by providing a housing allowance, it apparently has had an unintended
consequence, removing important services that had previously been
accessible to military mothers and their children," added Bailey. "This
legislation would help to restore those services to low-income military
families who need it."
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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