Culver: Iraq visit designed to boost help for soldiers, families

Gov. Chet Culver used a visit to Iowa National Guard and Reserve member in Iraq to lobby for legislation he said would benefit those solders and their families.

Culver, who would not say where he was or how long he was staying in Iraq for security reasons, told reporters on a conference call that he hopes the Legislature will “take a few more steps forward to support our troops.”

It was the first-term governor's first trip to Iraq. He earlier visited Iowa soldiers serving in Kosovo.

The visit was a “humbling experience,” Culver said Friday. He was “honored and privileged” to meet the soldiers and thank them for their service and learn first-hand what's happening on the ground.”

The governor, who said he had wanted to go to Iraq for three years, was happy to be able to get here and thank each and every one of them in person.”

“We owe these soldiers a debt of gratitude and we also want to thank their families for their service as well because they are sacrificing as their loved ones are serving here in Iraq,” Culver said.

He made the trip “out of respect for the 18 Iowa Guard men and women killed here in Iraq and their families as well and the more than 200 Iowans injured in this country.”

The trip, which he said was paid for by the Department of Defense, included a visit to Walter Reed Medical Hospital to visit wounded soldiers.

Although he would not give details of the trip, Culver said he had no security concerns.

“This is the least I can do as commander-in-chief of the Iowa National Guard to come over and see out soldiers and our troops and I just wish I could spend more time with them, frankly,” Culver said.

On the legislative front, Culver called for passage of House File 2110, the “trailing spouse” bill that would pay unemployment benefits to people who are forced to leave their jobs when their spouses receive a military reassignment or deployment. Since 2002, more than 12,000 Iowans have been mobilized and 3,500 Guard members are scheduled to be deployed later this year to Afghanistan. HF 2110 has been approved by the House.

He's also encouraging lawmakers to exempt veteran's benefits from income taxation, (HF 2138), modify visitation rights for veterans (HF 2417) and increase the number of veterans on commissions (SF 2175).