Click here for a gallery of photographs from the 21st Annual Conference Announcing a series of legislative initiatives at the 21st Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Governor Edward G. Rendell said his goal is to work with the General Assembly on a bi-partisan basis to give Pennsylvania Guard members and their families "the finest package of Guard protections and benefits in America." Governor Rendell's dramatic announcement and presentations by Congressman Curt Weldon and Mr. Craig Duerhring, Principal  Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, highlighted the 21st Annual Conference held from 29 Apr to 1 May 05 at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel in historic Philadelphia.  The 56th Brigade (Stryker) hosted the Conference, which in addition to highly informative professional development presentations, also featured an outstanding Associations Dinner at the Independence Seaport Museum.  Click here for Conference Resolutions       Corporate Members and Benefactors GOVERNOR RENDELL ANNOUNCES INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT PA NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS AND VETERANS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2005 CONTACT:Kate Philips 717-783-1116 PHILADELPHIA: Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced his support for several legislative initiatives that would provide benefits and protections to soldiers and airmen of the Pennsylvania National Guard and their families, as well as Pennsylvania's veterans. "Today's National Guard is much different than the reserve forces of five or 10 years ago," Governor Rendell said. "The operations tempo is much higher, and we know that the pace of deployment can take a toll on our Guard personnel and their families. Working with the Administration. members of the General Assembly have come forward with initiatives to support the Guard members and veterans." Governor Rendell said that Global War on Terrorism and Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan have resulted in a dramatic increase in operations tempo for the Pennsylvania National Guard. More National Guard soldiers are being called up for longer periods than at any time since the Second World War. The 2" Brigade Combat Team, led by Pennsylvania National Guard forces, is currently training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. It has over 2,300 soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard as part of a force with over 3,500 soldiers from 22 states. The deployment of the 2BCT to Iraq in June will be the largest combat deployment of Pennsylvania National Guard soldiers since WWII. Governor Rendell said he supports the following initiatives: Providing Incentives to Employers of Guard and Reserve Personnel Mobilized in the Global War on Terrorism  Access to Military Voter Absentee Ballot Lists Extension of Time for Educational Assistance Program Payment of Servicemen's Life Insurance Premiums for Deployed Soldiers Pennsylvania's Service members' Civil Relief Act  Emergency Relief for Military Families  College Tuition for Surviving Spouses Reduced Price Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Deployed Soldiers Student Loan Deferments for Deployed Soldiers Child Care Priority Job Training Priority Extension of Eligibility for Health Insurance Coverage for Deployed Soldiers who are Full-Time Students Health Coverage for Personnel on Extended State Active Duty State Tax Treatment of Military Pay for State Active Duty Death Benefits for Survivors of Personnel Who Die as a Result of State Active Duty Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption Program SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES Providing Incentives to Employers of Guard and Reserve Personnel Mobilized iii the Global War on Terrorism Governor Rendell said he supports a 20 percent state business tax credit for employers that provide compensation to deployed soldiers and airmen. "When public-minded employers pay the difference between a soldier's civilian and military pay or pay a stipend like that paid by the Commonwealth, they should have additional be recognized for their support for the Guard, the Reserve, our state and the nation," the Governor said. Access to Military Voter Absentee Ballot Lists The Election Code currently requires that a list of persons issued absentee ballots be posted conspicuously at the county election office and at each polling place. However, Governor Rendell supports legislation, such as House Bill 1266, to provide that the names and addresses of persons issued military absentee ballots be exempt from the public posting requirement. Instead, it allows that names be kept with the county director of elections and released upon written request. "Public posting of the names and residence of military personnel who have requested absentee ballots raises issues of personal security since such a list would make it easy for anyone to identify who is deployed," Governor Rendell said. "Our brave servicemen and women should be extended this courtesy." Extension of Time for Educational Assistance Program  Governor Rendell supports Senate Bill 358 and House Bill 1259 that would give soldiers and airmen who served in combat zones additional time to pursue their higher education using Educational Assistance Program grants and to give all National Guard soldiers and airmen mobilized after September 11, 2001 an extension of time to use these grants after their discharge from the Guard. Payment of Servicemen’s Life Insurance Premiums for Deployed Soldiers   Governor Rendell supports legislation to provide for state payment of group life insurance premiums during the period of deployment of members of the Pennsylvania National Guard who deploy overseas. These payments would be designed to ensure that our deployed soldiers receive additional state-paid life insurance coverage.  Pennsylvania’s Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act.  Governor Rendell supports legislation introduced State Representative Thomas W. Blackwell IV (Philadelphia) to create a Pennsylvania Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act.  Governor Rendell introduced Represenative Blackwell who explained that the federal Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act and provisions of the state Military Code provide legal protections to Guard members and their families who are deployed. House Bill 1078, introduced by Representative Blackwell is a comprehensive update to these protections to fill any gaps in the federal protections and to ensure that we are providing the best possible legal protections for soldiers and their families.  Emergency Relief for Military Families Governor Rendell supports an initiative first introduced Representative Bud George and now moving forward with bi-partisan support, to provide for a state income tax checkoff to establish a military family emergency relief fund to provide assistance to military families in emergency situations where federal benefits are inadequate or unavailable. We believe this program should be administered not by state government but by a private charitable organization such as the Red Cross. College Tuition for Surviving Spouses   In 2004, the General Assembly enacted and Governor Rendell signed into law legislation to extend free tuition at State System of Higher Education schools to children of Pennsylvania National Guard members killed in the performance of federal or state active duty. The Governor supports new legislation to extend this educational opportunity to the unmarried surviving spouses of Guard personnel killed in the performance of duty. Reduced Price Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Deployed Soldiers  TheGovernor supports legislation, introduced by Representative Ed Staback, to provide that certain deployed Pennsylvania National Guard personnel may purchase resident hunting and fishing licenses for just $1. This proposal gives these personnel the opportunity to purchase a single $1 hunting and fishing license for up to two years after their return from extended active duty and overseas deployment. Student Loan Deferments for Deployed Soldiers The Administration supports legislation to amend the Military Code to provide that the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency will defer student loan payments and payment of interest when soldiers and airmen are ordered to extended active duty, other than active duty for training. The deferment would automatically kick in when a member is called up, and would remain in place for six months after the active duty is over. Child Care Priority The Governor supports the goals of House Bill 1073 which would provide families of active-duty Pennsylvania National Guard troops priority for state-funded childcare.  "Often, National Guard pay is less than what these troops earn in civilian life, so a spouse often has to work outside the home or work longer hours when a Guard member is called to active duty," Governor Rendell said. "My administration intends to implement the objectives of this legislation administratively." Job Training Priority.  Governor Rendell supports House Bill 1071 which would give the spouses of active-duty Guard members and Guard members returning from active-duty service, priority status for state job-training programs. Extension of Eligibility for Health Insurance Coverage for Deployed Soldiers who are Full-Time Students Many health insurance programs provide that dependent children of employees may remain eligible for coverage under their parents' health insurance coverage until a certain age as long as they remain full-time students enrolled in an institution of higher education. When a full-time student who is a member of the Guard or Reserves is called to active duty, the soldier no longer qualifies for health insurance under the parents' coverage, and this is appropriate since they have military health insurance coverage. However, when they are released from active duty and return to their full-time studies, often becoming again dependent on their parents for support, they may have lost their eligibility for coverage under the parents' health insurance program because they exceed the maximum age for coverage. Governor Rendell supports legislation to require an extension of eligibility for coverage for a full-time student who would have been eligible under their parents' insurance but for their age. The extension of eligibility would be for a period equal to the period of active duty. STATE ACTIVE DUTY Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard not only face the challenges posed by the increased operations tempo in connection with the Global War on Terrorism, they also face the prospect of being ordered to state active duty to deal with natural disasters and homeland security missions. When National Guard personnel serve on state active duty, the Commonwealth is responsible for their pay and allowances, benefits, worker's compensation and tort liability coverage. For these reasons, Governor Rendell believes that National Guard soldiers and airmen on state active duty need to have the same rights and protections as those who serve in active federal service or in a federally funded training status. Toward that end, the Administration is supporting the following initiatives: Health Coverage for Personnel on Extended State Active Duty  Under current law, the Commonwealth provides workers' compensation-type coverage to Guard personnel for injuries or death incurred while performing state active duty under Section 508 of the Military Code. The Military Code does not expressly authorize the Commonwealth to provide health insurance coverage to these Guard members or their families.  Governor Rendell supports an initiative to provide health insurance coverage to members of the Guard and their families who are otherwise uninsured when the Guard member is deployed on extended periods (30 or more days) of state active duty for an emergency. State Tax Treatment of Military Pay for State Active Duty Current law exempts active duty military pay earned outside the Commonwealth from state income tax and active duty military pay from local earned income taxes. State active duty pay is not exempt from state income taxes. and its status for local earned income tax purposes (which uses the phrase "active military service" in the statute) is not clear. Governor Rendell supports an initiative to exempt all military pay and allowances earned by Pennsylvania National Guard personnel performing state active duty from state and local income taxes. Death Benefits for Survivors of Personnel Who Die as a Result of State Active Duty Governor Rendell supports House Bill 728 which would increase the death benefits for personnel who die as a result of performance of state active duty from $50,000 (adjusted for inflation) to $100,000 (adjusted for inflation) and to provide that personnel who die from heart attack or similar causes within 24 hours after release from state active duty qualify for this death benefit. 'These legislative initiatives are a testament to our support and thanks to all service men and women in Pennsylvania who selflessly serve our country abroad or are in active duty in-state," said Governor Rendell. "I look forward to working with members of the state legislature on a bipartisan basis to make these initiatives a reality."   The theme for this year's conference was "Let Freedom Ring." Philadelphia, the birthplace of the nation, has much to offer in history, culture, and family activities, so come out and enjoy the wonders of the city and make it a special family weekend. Accommodations Assocations' members stepped back in time to colonial Philadelphia, amidst lush landscaping and cobblestone streets to stay at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel in Old City Philadelphia.Hotel information and directions can be obtained on the Internet at: www.sheraton.com/societyhill.   Friday Social The Friday evening social was held at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel from 1900-2300 hours. Associations Dinner The Associations Dinner will be held on Saturday, 30 April with cocktails (no host) at 1800 hours at the Independence Seaport Museum on the scenic waterfront of Philadelphia. The Independence Seaport Museum is within walking distance of the Society Hill Sheraton. The entree was a surf and turf combination.  Many at the dinner described it as the best ever.  The outstanding food was followed by an outstanding speech by Congressman Curt Weldon.       Schedule of Events Friday, 29 April 2005 0900 until completion Golf – Bensalem Country Club 1000 until 2200 Registration in Hotel Lobby 1300 until 1900 Hospitality Room O 1900 until 2300 Social Night Event Saturday, 30 April 2005 0730 until 1100 Registration in Hotel Lobby 0800 – 0830 Opening Ceremonies 0830 – 0845 Welcome Speaker 0845 – 0900 The Adjutant General 0900 – 0930 Coffee Break 0930 – 1030 PNGAS Annual Meeting 1030 – 1200 NGAPA / PNGEA Breakout Meetings 1200 – 1300 Lunch (on your own) 1300 – 1545 Seminars 1300 – 1700 Hospitality Room Open 1800-1900 Cocktails (No-Host) Independence Seaport 1900 –2100 Associations Dinner Independence Seaport 2130 – closing Hospitality Room Open Sunday May 1, 2005 0800 – 1100 PNGAS Board of Directors Meeting (by invitation only)