Rep. Ray Gallison (D-69)

Portsmouth Rep. Ray Gallison (D-69) won praise from the Department of Defense this week for his successful sponsorship of two bills to help members of the armed forces and their families, according to a state house news release.

According to the release, Gallison received a certificate of appreciation signed by Robert L. Gordon III, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy, citing his sponsorship of two new laws that help deployed veterans vote and that accelerate child-custody hearings before deployment.

“Please accept our appreciation and that of the Service members and families residing in your state for your dedicated effort towards improving their quality of life,” said the Department of Defense in the letter accompanying the certificate.

The first bill (H 7100) brought Rhode Island’s elections law into compliance with the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act, aimed at helping deployed military members and others abroad to register and vote.

The second (H 7274) created a law expediting custody hearings for parents who are military members and are about to be deployed. The law allows either parent to request that the court expedite a hearing to establish temporary custody rights, responsibilities, and parent-child contact during deployment if deployment seems imminent. The goal of the new law is to prevent parents who are deployed from losing custody rights because they are deployed before rights are determined.

Gallison, who chairs the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, was also the sponsor of a bill (H 7225) that passed into law this year to prohibit lenders from foreclosing on the home of any member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard as well as members of the National Guard or Reserves when they are called to active duty, and for nine months following their return.

Editorial note: Written from a press release, but with sincere thanks for everything Rep. Gallison has done for our service men and women (and the rest of our community.) Thanks, Rep. Gallison!