Iowa legislators have moved to allow more Iowans who’ve been awarded military medals to get special license plates that show which medal they earned.
Senator Herman Quirmbach, a Democrat from Ames. says under current law, Medal of Honor winners and those who’ve earned the Bronze Star and Silver Star can get special license plates for their vehicles. "However, we have not done a very complete or thorough job in providing plates for some of the additional medals of high valor — individuals who have truly earned the name ‘hero,’" Quirmbach says.
The bill, which has unanimously cleared both the Iowa House and Senate, will allow those who’ve earned other honors like the Navy Cross, for example, to get a license plate featuring the words "Navy Cross winner" and a picture of the medal.
The license fees those award-winning vets pay will go towards veterans benefits, according to Senator Daryl Beall, a Democrat from Fort Dodge. "I think this is good legislation that veterans have requested and those families will appreciate," Beall says.
The bill now goes to Governor Culver for his approval. The yearly license fee for these special plates for veterans is $15.