While recognizing the 20th anniversary of 9/11, New York Governor Kathy Hochul also recognized the thousands of state National Guard members who responded to the tragedy.
Hochul proposed legislation that will provide veteran status and the attendent federal and state benefits to those Guard members. Because the National Guard were called to duty by a state emergency order and were not on federal active duty, they are not eligible for veteran's benefits.
More than 6,700 New York State National Guard members were called to serve after the attack on September 11, 2001.