The National Society of Professional Engineers, at the request of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, has endorsed the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014. Introduced by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT), this legislation (S.1982) addresses the needs of the veterans’ community and responds to issues raised by veterans and their organizations in numerous hearings and private meetings.

NSPE was specifically asked to address the professional license component of the legislation and commends S.1982 for acknowledging the need to protect the professional licenses of uniformed service members. NSPE strongly supports Section 802 of the legislation, which states that if a professional license issued by a state or local licensing authority to a service member would otherwise lapse during a period in which such service member is eligible for hostile fire or imminent danger special pay, the state licensing authority shall delay the expiration of the license at least 180 days. Moreover, NSPE endorses Section 802 of the legislation for applying the 180-day cushion to continuing education requirements.

In a letter of support to Chairman Sanders, NSPE President Robert Green, P.E., F.NSPE writes, “While NSPE believes strongly that state licensure requirements are vitally important, NSPE also believes that state licensure authorities should show a reasonable level of flexibility toward those defending our nation. NSPE believes the language in S.1982 embodies that level of flexibility.”

For more information concerning the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014, please contact Manager of Government Relations Arielle Eiser at [email protected].

Read President Green’s letter to Chairman Sanders.