(Juneau) - Representative Jim Elkins (R-Ketchikan) voiced his full support today for a $30,000 increase in the State Service Officers grant requested by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

"The State Service Officer's Program which is run by The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and The Disabled American Veterans, provides Alaska veterans assistance in obtaining benefits from the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs," Representative Elkins stated.

The FY07 budget request for the State Service Officers grant totals $620,000. This amount is divided evenly among the organizations and covers basic wages and travel for the service officers.

Elkins went on to say, "This vital veterans program annually returns well over 25 million dollars in benefits to Alaskan veterans, their dependants and widows. I know of no other state program that provides such a tremendous return for such a modest investment."

# # #