Rep. Karlee Macer receives awards from veterans groups
INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. Karlee Macer (D-Indianapolis) has been awarded the 2014 Distinguished Public Service Award from the American Legion, Department of Indiana, as well as the Disabled American Veterans’ “Legislator of the Year Award.”
Macer received both honors because of her dedication and work on behalf of veterans.
“I am greatly humbled and deeply honored to receive both awards,” said Macer. “The debt we Americans owe our veterans can never be fully repaid. My efforts in the Indiana General Assembly are modest attempts to provide needed services to Hoosier veterans to ensure they receive the services they need and do not suffer employment discrimination after they return home from serving our country. These are our true American heroes. They should always be honored, by all of us, for their great contributions to our country and the freedoms we enjoy.”
During the 2014 legislative session, Macer co-authored House Bill 1242 (Public Law 136-2014), which made it illegal for an employer to discriminate against prospective employees because they are veterans.
“I was shocked and outraged that these heroes suffered discrimination because of their sacrifice and service to our country,” said Macer. “What we legislators learned was that the discrimination was widespread and affected veterans of all ages. Something had to be done. As the ranking Democrat on the House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee, I worked closely with a fellow committee member, Rep. Martin Carbaugh, a Republican from Fort Wayne, to draft legislation that would gain support from both sides of the political aisle. That bill is now law, but there is much more we must do for the veterans of our state.”
Carbaugh and State Sens. Allen Paul (R-Richmond), Jim Banks (R-Columbia City), and Susan Glick (R-LaGrange) also received this year’s American Legion award.
In addition to House Bill 1242, Macer worked during the 2014 session to allow disabled Hoosiers who are Purple Heart recipients to have license plates that recognize these veterans’ service to our country.
Macer also authored a bill that would have established a Hoosier women veterans program to provide information and services, like medical needs, housing and assistance to victims of military sexual assault cases. She co-sponsored a similar bill, Senate Bill 354 (Public Law 105), authored by Sen. Paul. Like Macer’s House bill, Senate Bill 354 establishes a Hoosier women veterans program to provide information and service to Indiana’s women veterans.
Additionally, Macer co-sponsored another of Sen. Paul’s bills, Senate Bill 352 (Public Law 7-2014), which eliminated the restriction that service members and their dependents had only three years after the end of military service to apply for support from the Military Family Relief Fund.