Representative Robert Lancia has officially declared 2016 will be the “Year of the Veteran.” He and several fellow representatives have dedicated themselves to submitting and pushing through legislation focusing on improving conditions for veterans throughout the state.

Late last year, at “Breakfast Boot Camp” at the JONAH Center in Warwick, Lancia announced this initiative and urged the veterans to join him in the rotunda of the State House on Tuesday. The veteran community must have heard his call because the small landing was filled with nearly 70 people from every branch of the military.

Lancia, a former Navy chaplain, announced that he would introduce several pieces of veteran-friendly legislation including, eliminating taxes on military pensions, establishing a $1 million fund to help invest in veterans opening small businesses, and a 3 percent contracting preference for veteran owned businesses. Similarly, he also wants legislation to help begin a trades program, which would educate returning military in the building trades then put them to work on refurbishing houses. Under the program those houses would then be available at a discounted rate to the veterans who had a part in the process.

“I am not the governor. I am not the speaker and I am not the senate president, but I am personally making this the year of the veteran,” Lancia said.

Besides the gathering of veterans, Lancia was joined by Lieutenant Governor Daniel McKee, Representative Doreen Costa, Representative Daniel Riley, Representative Samuel Azzinaro, who serves as Vice Chair of Veterans Affairs Committee, Representative Eileen Naughton, Representative Blake Filippi as well as Warwick Councilwoman Camille Vella-Wilkinson, who has worked with Lancia on several local veterans initiatives.

They agreed Rhode Island needs to do more as a state to support and honor veterans and their service.

Filippi said, “We need to do a better job of honoring the sacrifice our veterans and active duty military make to serve the country.”

He noted that nationwide there is an increasing trend of veteran homelessness and suicides, an unacceptable trend that Rhode Island should work to combat. He commended Lancia for not only his work but also his “palpable passion” on the topic.

Costa said she would continue to fight for and be a voice for veterans, focusing her efforts on saving and preserving aviation history not only in Quonset but also throughout the state.

With an increasing veteran population, Riley said that investing in the veteran community is a necessity for Rhode Island. He urged those in attendance to attend hearings on veteran legislation.

“Taking care of veterans is a top priority,” Azzinaro said. “We will never forget you or stop working for your best interests.”

A retired Navy lieutenant commander, Vella-Wilkinson put forth an impassioned call to action for all of the veterans present.

“Whatever brought you to the uniform, you heard the call to serve your country. Do you hear the call of Rhode Island?” she asked. “This state needs you to run for local offices, General Assembly, city councils and school committees. We need your leadership.”

She said it is no longer enough for people to wear yellow “ribbons on their lapels,” but it was time for action.

Lancia said it is time to be there for those individuals who gave everything to defend the country and hoped that his sisters and brother would come out in support of themselves throughout the session.

“That’s what military folks like us do. We keep pushing forward. We take an oath and live by it our whole lives,” Lancia said.