Vets Trust Fund gets first $1 million from expansion

State Representative Marcie Frevert of Emmetsburg said today that the Veterans Trust Fund has received the first $1 million of an expected $3 million this year thanks to a bill which dedicates a stable, long-term funding source for the fund.

"The trust fund is designed to provide support and assistance for Iowa military families and veterans and I'm glad we were able to dedicate a stable funding source to ensure our veterans get the services they deserve," said Frevert.

The Iowa Lottery will make its first quarterly transfer of $992,773 to the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund on Oct. 31. The trust fund provides assistance to veterans and their families for prescription drugs, emergency services, housing repair, job retraining and unemployment assistance.

House File 2359, which was approved during the 2008 legislative session, directed the State Lottery to create two additional scratch and two pull-tab games annually with the profits dedicated to veterans, their spouses, and dependents. The Lottery estimates that these additional games would generate approximately $3 million annually for the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund.

* For more information on the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund, go to www.iowava.org.