AB 2994 WILL PREVENT STUDENTS FROM HEARING MILITARY OPTIONS

AB 2994 by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber seeks to restrict the ability of military recruiters to contact and inform high school students of their options regarding military service. The CSCVC has an oppose position on this bill. The bill passed off of the Senate Floor yesterday on a roughly party line vote, Democrats voting Aye and Republicans voting No. The two exceptions were Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) and Senator Gloria Negrete-McLeod (D-Chino) who both voted against the bill.

Assemblywoman Lieber tried this same bill idea in 2006 and the Governor vetoed it (thanks in no small part to heavy opposition and lobbying by CA veterans and military groups).

AB 2994 must go back to the Assembly Floor a brief concurrence vote, where it is expected to pass along party lines. When the bill went to the Assembly Floor for it’s initial vote, the vote was along party lines except for Assemblyman Juan Arambula (D-Fresno) and Assemblywoman Nicole Parra (D-Bakersfield) who voted against the bill. From there, the bill will go to the Governor for signature or veto. This is where veterans and military groups need to let the Governor know that this bill needs to be vetoed.

Below is a draft letter that chapters and individuals can use to send to the Governor.

Pete Conaty and Associates

********

(Date)

The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Office of the Governor
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: VETO AB 2994

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

Soon you will have Assembly Bill 2994 before you for your consideration. On behalf of (fill in district or post) of the American Legion, we request that you veto AB 2994 by Assemblywoman Lieber.

AB 2994 is a thinly disguised attempt to make the military recruiters’ job more difficult in California. This bill is similar to AB 1778, also by Assemblywoman Lieber, which you vetoed in 2006. We believe this is, at its core, an anti-military and attempts to send the message that military service is not a viable career choice or an honorable profession.

This bill would negatively impact young Americans, soon to be adults, from receiving all the information available about opportunities awaiting them after high school graduation. This is especially true now that a new G.I. Bill has been enacted by the federal government.

This bill also goes against the often-stated desire for more “local control of our schools” that proponents such as the California Teachers Association usually argue for.

At a time when our country is at war, this bill will undermine our country, and our state in our fight in the Global War on Terror.

Again, we request that you veto AB 2994.

Sincerely

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