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Military Relief Fund Expansion Awaits Signature

Legislation by Assemblyman Paul Cook

By Michael P. Neufeld
Thursday, August 21, 2008

Sacramento, CA - Assembly Bill 3016 to expand the California Military Family Relief Fund (CMFRF) has passed both the Assembly and the Senate and will soon head to the Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk for his signature. The measure, authored by Assemblyman Paul Cook (R- Yucca Valley), is being held in the legislature until a state budget is passed.

"I'm proud to have carried this bill," Cook stated in a prepared press release. "Reservists in all branches, not just the National Guard, have played a crucial role in the conflicts in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Many have served multiple tours of duty, and many families have suffered as a result. These brave Americans deserve access to this important fund."

State Assemblyman Paul Cook (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Established in 2004, the CMFRF provides financial emergency grants to members of the California National Guard who have been called to active duty and experience a significant loss of income while on active duty. AB 3016 would expand the program so that the CMFRF could be used to provide financial emergency grants to reserve members in other branches of the US Armed Forces who have been called to active duty and are California residents.

Additionally, AB 3016 will help reserve members in another key area: if a reserve member has returned from active duty and, within six months, has experienced a 10 percent loss, or greater, in income as a direct result of deployment, that reserve member would be eligible for the CMFRF.

Cook's bill gained 35 co-authors, with a healthy balance of Democrats and Republicans from all parts of California. It passed the Senate by a vote of 39-0 and passed the Assembly by a vote of 78-0.