Rep. Kent Coleman (D-Murfreesboro)
MURFREESBORO – New legislation co-sponsored by state Rep. Kent Coleman to ease the transition into civilian life for honored veterans of America’s wars came into effect this July.
The law, HB3819, provides “preference points” for honorably discharged veterans of past or present U.S. conflicts and their spouses who apply to continue to serve their country through work in the government’s civil service system. This applies to veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.
Coleman is the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over civil and criminal law in the state, as well as law enforcement agencies and individual property rights.
“Our nation’s veterans have already rendered the greatest service to their country by taking up arms in its defense,” Coleman stated. “When they come home from war and decide to continue their service to the public as a civilian government employee, they deserve special consideration.”
Previously, the law applied only to veterans of declared wars, the Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict, the Lebanon Expedition, the Grenada Expedition, the Panama Expedition and Operation Desert Storm, and did not include Coast Guard veterans. The current law removes those restrictions, allowing veterans of the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to benefit from its provisions.
“Tennessee is the Volunteer State, and Middle Tennessee is home to so many brave individuals who put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms we all enjoy,” Coleman added. “It’s a great joy to me to play even a small part as a legislator to give those men and women the honor and respect they so richly deserve.”
From a press release received from 
