OLYMPIA…State Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, won approval yesterday from the Senate Transportation Committee to create a new license plate to honor the men and women who serve in combat.

“This is an effort by civilians to do what is morally owed to the soldiers and their families who sacrifice for us and defend us,” Benton said. “Support Our Troops, Inc., a nonprofit organization, hopes to have these plates on the road in 41 states by summer.”

Benton’s measure, Senate Bill 6830, calls for a design that includes a soldier and a child. The substitute bill approved by the committee requires that 3,500 signatures of individuals who plan to buy the plates be gathered before the plate goes into production.

“Ensuring the state will recoup its investment through signature gathering is standard,” Benton said. “I have no problem with that.”

After costs are recovered, all proceeds from the sale of the license plates will be deposited into a special “Support Our Troops” account and may be used for:

• assisting the spouses and families of soldiers killed in military action;
• providing training or assistance to soldiers injured in military action; and
• purposes consistent with the articles of incorporation for Support Our Troops, Inc., a nonprofit organization.

Substitute Senate Bill 6830 is now in the Senate Rules Committee, the last stop before full Senate consideration.

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For more information contact Penny Drost at (360) 786-7522 or penny.drost@leg.wa.gov