Executive Order

Executive Order  No. 278: Governor's Advisory Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Date: 09/29/1987
Issuer: Michael S. Dukakis
Mass Register: No. 567
Superseding: Executive Order 162
Superseding: Executive Order 177
Revoked and Superseded by: Executive Order 363

Table of Contents

(Superseding Executive Order Nos. 162 and 177)

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts takes tremendous pride in our men and women who valiantly served their state and their country in the armed forces; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth recognizes that our veterans have special needs and often encounter social and economic obstacles as a result of their veteran status; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth recognizes the extreme hardship and sacrifice experienced by American former Prisoners of War in the service of our country; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth hereby affirms its strong commitment to advance opportunities of our veteran citizenry to assure equal opportunity in public and private employment, and to develop services which will enable all our veterans to maximize their participation in the social and economic activities of the Commonwealth;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Michael S. Dukakis, Governor of the Commonwealth, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Supreme Executive Magistrate, do hereby revoke Executive Orders 162 and 177 and do hereby order as follows:

ARTICLE I. Composition of Committee

1.1 There is hereby created the Governor's Advisory Committee on Veterans' Affairs ("the Committee"), to be chaired by the Massachusetts Commissioner of Veterans' Services or his designee. All members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve without compensation at the pleasure of the Governor.

1.2 The Committee shall consist of one representative from each of the following named organizations:

  • Massachusetts Veterans' Services Agents Association
  • Vietnam Veterans of Massachusetts
  • American Ex-Prisoners of War
  • Massachusetts Vietnam Era Veterans Association
  • American Legion
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars
  • Disabled American Veterans
  • AMVETS
  • Marine Corps League
  • Polish American Veterans
  • Italian American War Veterans
  • Congressional Medal of Honor Society
  • Jewish War Veterans
  • World War One Veterans
  • Organization of Afro-American Veterans
  • American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc.

1.3 Each of the above organizations is authorized to submit a nominee to the Governor. Should the nominee of any organization not be acceptable to the Governor, such organization is authorized to submit a substitute nominee.

1.4 The Governor may also solicit nominees from any other state-chartered or nationally-chartered veterans' organizations, as well as those federal officials authorized to administer veterans benefits programs on a federal level.

ARTICLE II. Purpose of the Committee

2.1 The Committee is authorized and directed to conduct studies, investigations, and research, to advise the Governor on considerations, issues, and problems pertinent to the veterans of the Commonwealth.

2.2 The Committee shall have, at a minimum, the following functions and responsibilities:

  1. To research and analyze all statutes of the Commonwealth and all governmental programs and regulations relating to the employment, education and health of veterans.
  2. To investigate the need for new and expanded services that may be required for veterans, including education, counseling, training, and retraining.
  3. To labor in light of these recommendations in order to effectuate their implementation.
  4. To use the human resources of the Commonwealth to enlighten the citizens and elected and appointed public officials of the Commonwealth regarding the issues of importance to the veterans of the Commonwealth.

2.3 The Committee is authorized to call upon any secretariat, office, department, board, commission, councilor any other officer, member or employee thereof, to supply such statistical data, program reports, and other information and assistance as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to perform its work. The Committee may form subcommittees from its own membership.

2.4 The Committee shall submit an annual report to the Governor on the 30th of June each year.

Article III. Subcommittee on Former Prisoners of War

3.1 There is hereby created within the Committee a subcommittee, to be known as the Governor's Special Advisory Subcommittee on American Former Prisoners Of War ("the Subcommittee").

3.2 The Subcommittee shall consist of two representatives from each Massachusetts Chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War, Inc., and two representatives from the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc.

3.3 Each of the above organizations is authorized to submit two nominees to the Governor. Should the nominee of any organization not be acceptable to the Governor, such organization is authorized to submit a substitute nominee.

3.4 The chairman of the Subcommittee shall be selected by the members of the Subcommittee.

3.5 The Subcommittee is authorized and directed to conduct studies, investigations and research, to advise the Committee on considerations, issues, and problems pertinent to American former prisoners of war in the Commonwealth.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 29th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America two hundred and eleven.

Michael S. Dukakis, Governor
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Michael Joseph Connolly
Secretary of the Commonwealth

Contact   for No. 278: Governor's Advisory Committee on Veterans' Affairs

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