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UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 2556
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A RESOLUTION recognizing and honoring the First Amendment rights of veterans 1
and the importance of protecting the earned benefits of our veterans from retaliatory and 2
punitive measures. 3
WHEREAS, the people of Kentucky recognize and celebrate the patriotic service 4
and community contributions of the more than 370,000 Kentucky veterans and their 5
families, totaling over one million residents, who call our great Commonwe alth their 6
home; and 7
WHEREAS, the people of the Commonwealth and this nation have a First 8
Amendment right to free speech, and the veterans of the United States Armed Forces 9
have sacrificed for the protection of that exercise; and 10
WHEREAS, in recognition of their vital contributions to our state economy and 11
local communities, we voice full support for the preservation and protection of their 12
earned benefits from any punitive elimination or reduction of their retiree pay, veteran 13
healthcare, or disability com pensation for any exercise of their First Amendment right of 14
free speech; and 15
WHEREAS, Kentucky veterans have faithfully served the nation, and we 16
steadfastly honor their service by protecting their earned benefits and right to free speech; 17
and 18
WHEREAS, an y punitive risk that unjustly threatens Kentucky veterans' benefits 19
would severely impact our 370,000 veterans and their families who represent 25 percent 20
of our population; and 21
WHEREAS, threats to recall any veteran into active duty for the purpose of 22
conducting a court martial to downgrade or eliminate justly earned benefits sets a 23
dangerous precedent that veterans' earned benefits could be subject to arbitrary and 24
capricious administrative action; and 25
WHEREAS, protected First Amendment speech doesn't req uire agreement to be 26
protected, and its exercise should never be used against a person to threaten, intimidate, 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 2556
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or provoke action. Retaliatory threats against protected speech are a valid concern that 1
warrants action from the Commonwealth to protect its veterans; and 2
WHEREAS, to disenfranchise one veteran can disenfranchise all veterans; 3
NOW, THEREFORE, 4
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the 5
Commonwealth of Kentucky: 6
Section 1. The House of Representatives hereby recognizes and honors the First 7
Amendment rights of veterans and the importance of protecting the earned benefits of our 8
veterans from retaliatory and punitive measures. 9
Section 2. The House of Representatives stands with our military veterans in 10
advocating for their right to free speech and the protection of their earned retirement, 11
healthcare, and disability benefits from specious claims. 12
Section 3. The Clerk of the House of Representatives is directed to transmit a 13
copy of this Resolution to Representative Pamela Stevenson. 14