Alabama is the U.S.’s second best state for military retirees, according to a recent report, the Alabama Political Reporter reported.
Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth
The report – produced by RetireGuide – compared states based on factors including veteran population; state funding per veteran; state taxation on military retirement pay; quantity of VA facilities; veteran suicide rate; cost of living; health care; and mental health care.
“As chairman of the Alabama Military Stability Commission, we have worked hard to make Alabama the nation’s most welcoming state for active and retired service members, veterans, and military families,” Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth said. “The fact that Alabama is now the second most popular state among military retirees offers strong evidence that the commission’s efforts are producing results, but just like our college football teams, we won’t stop working, pushing, and promoting until we are ranked number one in the nation.”
The Alabama Military Stability Commission has introduced legislation to retain and increase federal military presence in the state. Those that have been made law include those allowing military dependents attending public colleges and universities in Alabama to pay in-state tuition while stationed here; and those expanding scholarships from the Alabama G.I. and Dependents’ Educational Benefit Act to include private schools.
Florida ranked first on the report, with Alabama coming in second and Virginia third. The worst-ranked were Vermont at 49th and Alaska at 50th.
