Help those who have served our country

Our country is at war, and we have fellow Iowans deployed to combat zones. As a veteran, I well remember the hardships of service in such times, not only for those of us who wore the boots but also for our families who kept the home fires burning. So few truly understand the sacrifices these good folks make on behalf of all of us.

Now serving on the Linn County Veterans Affairs Commission, I see the long-term impact that such service can have on our heroes and their loved ones. Anything we can do to improve the lives of those now serving and their families helps mitigate some of their challenges and goes a long way toward ensuring their future success.

It is with this perspective that I thank state Reps. Tyler Olson, Kirsten Running-Marquardt, Todd Taylor and Nate Willems for voting in favor of House File 2110. This legislation allows military spouses to relocate so families can stay together while ensuring unemployment benefits. In short, it eases the economic burden on these extraordinary families.

Shame on Reps. Kraig Paulsen, Renee Schulte and Nick Wagner for voting against our troops and their families, in what appears to be purely partisan politics as usual.

Joe Stutler

Cedar Rapids