McGee appointed senate chairman of veterans, foreign affairs board

LYNN – Sen. Thomas McGee (D-Lynn) was recently appointed the new Senate Chairman of the Joint Committee on Veterans & Federal Affairs.McGee has been a member of the Veterans & Federal Affairs Committee since the Committee’s formation in 2005. He will replace Sen. Stephen Brewer (D-Barre), who had served as chairman since 2005.McGee will serve with House Chairman Anthony Verga (D-Gloucester).”I am looking forward to serving beside Senator McGee,” Verga said. “Tom has been a long-time friend of mine personally and a long-time friend of our veterans.”McGee said he is honored to be named co-chair of such a great committee.”There is no more deserving constituency than our service men and women,” he said. “I look forward to working with Chairman Verga and the committee members to make sure the voices of all veterans are heard in Massachusetts.”McGee has been a strong advocate for veterans’ issues throughout his political career. In 2006 he served as a member of the 11-member Special Commission on Veterans Tuition and Fee Waivers that was created by the “The Welcome Home Bill” and tasked to “study tuition and fee waiver programs?for veterans.” The Commission released its highly anticipated report that recommended that the legislature take swift action to expand the tuition and fee waiver benefits currently available for National Guard members at state and community colleges to all Massachusetts veterans.”As more and more service men and women return home from bravely fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan and across the world, it is our duty to make sure they receive the services and benefits that they deserve,” McGee said.The Committee is planning several hearings before the end of the legislative session, to address the issues of veterans healthcare, compensation and pension, employment and training, and National Guard matters.McGee is also the Chair of the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. He said he sees opportunities to leverage his experience as chair of Labor and Workforce Development in his new role as chair of Veterans and Federal Affairs.”One of the biggest challenges facing veterans returning home from abroad is re-entering the workforce,” said McGee. “We need to ensure that all veterans coming home have the resources available to secure good, well-paying jobs. Massachusetts has a strong record of supporting education and vocational training for veterans and I look forward to continuing that tradition.”