State Representative Zach Mako | Pennsylvania 83rd Legislative District
State Representative Zach Mako | Pennsylvania 83rd Legislative District
The Pennsylvania House has passed a bill authored by Representative Zach Mako, aimed at easing the transition to civilian employment for veterans and their spouses. The legislation, known as House Bill 1868, seeks to simplify the process of obtaining state licensure for these individuals.
Rep. Mako emphasized the significance of this initiative on the eve of Veterans Day, stating, "This legislation is just a small way to thank those who served in the military and their spouses for their sacrifice and service." He noted his personal understanding of the challenges faced by veterans re-entering civilian life as a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard.
House Bill 1868 enjoys bipartisan support and proposes several measures to facilitate licensure for veterans and military spouses. It mandates expedited application reviews, waives initial licensure fees for military spouses relocating to Pennsylvania, and considers military experience when assessing qualifications. Additionally, it allows early submission for licensure renewals for deployed military members and aims to increase veteran representation on licensing boards.
Rep. Dave Hickernell highlighted the importance of reviewing existing licensing processes: "House Bill 1868 is an important step in this direction to reduce barriers for our veterans, service members and military spouses."
The bill also garnered support from Rep. Karen Boback, who stated that it enhances professional licensure provisions significantly: "I was honored to support this important legislation through its House passage."
Democratic chair Rep. Jake Wheatley praised the collaborative effort behind the bill's passage: "This bill will help veterans, service members and their families as they transition to civilian life."
Rep. Chris Sainato addressed issues faced by veterans transitioning into civilian roles: "Our bill would fix that by adding more veterans to boards and putting other measures in place."
With approval from the House secured, House Bill 1868 now awaits consideration by the Senate.
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