Senator Libby awarded as “Legislator of the Year” by the American Legion

Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston, was honored with a “Legislator of the Year” award by the American Legion at a February 15 ceremony. Matt Jabaut, a Lewiston native and the Second Vice Commander of the American Legion Department of Maine, and Jerry DeWitt, commander of the local Legion Post, presented the award in recognition of Sen. Libby’s work helping veterans access benefits owed to them.

In 2017 Sen. Libby sponsored LD 465 “An Act To Assist Veterans in Their Applications for Service-related Benefits,” which would have required the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services take all benefit claims cases that veterans bring to them, not just cherry-pick the easy cases. While the bill failed due to lack of Republican support, it raised awareness of the problem. Other non-governmental partners, including the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), got engaged in fixing the problem and they are working to fill in the gaps in services.

“Ensuring all veterans are treated fairly, regardless of the difficulty or complexity of their benefit claims, is just a small way we can ensure we’re repaying our debt to America’s veterans,” said Sen. Libby. “I’m honored to be recognized by the American Legion in this way, and I will strive every day to live up to this honor in the State Senate.”

Jabaut, Sen. Libby and DeWitt