Issue Position: Advocating for Veterans

Issue Position

As a Naval officer and Iraq war veteran, Mike Dovilla is a vocal advocate in the legislature for Ohio's military personnel and veterans. Dovilla's first bill to be enacted into law, House Bill 224, was bipartisan, unanimously-passed legislation that improves the capacity for our military service members and other overseas voters to participate in one of our most important civic duties as Americans: the right and responsibility to vote. This new state law implements changes to Ohio's Uniform Military and Overseas Voting law to make it more accurately reflect recommendations made by the Federal Voting Assistance Program and represents just one of the ways we can honor the military members within our communities. Mike Dovilla believes that while these brave individuals are protecting our country and our families around the globe, we have a duty to protect their ability to vote. Dovilla also authored House Bill 490, another unanimously enacted, bipartisan law, to update Ohio's veterans service laws and improve veterans' access to the benefits to which they are entitled. This law makes several important changes to modernize the Ohio Revised Code's provisions related to veterans.

As a member of The American Legion (Post 91 in Berea) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (Post 3345 in Strongsville), Mike Dovilla, a U.S. Navy lieutenant commander, is honored to be a regular speaker at military units' deployment and welcome home ceremonies and veterans events through our legislative district and the Greater Cleveland area.

Source