VALOR Act allows unpaid work leave for treatment of service-related injuries
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Rep. Stephen Webber, D-Columbia, today pre-filed House Bill 1541, the Veterans Access to Leave for Ongoing Rehabilitation Act. The VALOR Act protects veterans’ access to health, mental health and rehabilitation services, allowing unpaid leave from work for treatment of injuries connected to the veteran’s military service.
“We have a moral obligation to veterans, reservists, and National Guard members injured in the line of duty to help them heal with access to health and mental health services,” Webber said. “The VALOR Act ensures that veterans can access medically necessary treatment without jeopardizing their employment.”
The VALOR Act requires the veteran, guard member or reservist to give his or her employer sufficient notice and provide proof of the required medical treatment at the employer’s request.
Richard Grant, a retired Sergeant Major and former Ombudsman of the Employer Support Division of the Missouri National Guard praised the VALOR Act, saying: “Helping veterans who have protected and served our community access critical health and mental health services is the least we can do. I hope lawmakers of both parties will support this critical legislation for our veterans.”
The text of HB 1541 (VALOR Act) can be found via Missouri House of Representatives website at: http://www.house.mo.gov/billsummary.aspx?bill=HB1541&year=2016&code=R
Rep. Stephen Webber is an attorney and the senior member of the Boone County House delegation. Prior to his election to the Missouri House, he served two tours in Iraq as a Marine infantryman and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
