Veterans’ Affairs Committee Okays Rep. Noujaim Bill to Extend Time Flags Can be flown on Vets’ Graves

The Select Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has approved three bills cosponsored by state Representative Selim Noujaim that would benefit Connecticut veterans and their families, including a measure extending the time flags can be flown on veterans’ graves, Representative Noujaim announced today.

“One of the measures (House Bill 5138) approved by the Veterans Affairs Committee March 5^th would allow the placement of flags on the graves of veterans from the Saturday before Memorial Day until the Monday after the Fourth of July, enabling the flags to be flown for a longer period of time. This measure was especially important to several Waterbury veterans from VFW Post # 201, who testified in favor of the bill before the committee earlier this year,” said Representative Noujaim, R-Waterbury, who also offered testimony in support of the legislation.

“It’s my hope that this bill and two other measures I cosponsored continue to receive bipartisan support as they move through the legislative process,” Representative Noujaim said. “It will honor the memory of Waterbury veterans – and deceased veterans throughout our state – who answered our country’s call at a time of great need.”

Another proposal (H. B. 5070) cosponsored by Representative Noujaim that was approved by the committee would allow a person eligible for a veterans’ property tax exemption to also receive a property tax exemption as a surviving parent of a deceased serviceman or veteran. Currently, only one exemption is allowed, he said.

“There is a Waterbury resident who is both a veteran and a surviving parent of a soldier who lost his life in Iraq. I believe a person who fought for his country and later lost a son or daughter who died in defense of our nation should qualify for both of those exemptions,” Representative Noujaim said.

Also approved by the committee was H. B. 6086, which would extend the time period for the purchase of credit for military service in the municipal employees’ retirement system to January 1, 2010. The original window ended in 1992, Representative Noujaim said.

The committee approved the bills Thursday, March 5^th.