State Rep. Jill N. Cooper has highlighted recent legislative actions aimed at supporting military families and veterans in Pennsylvania. In a statement, Cooper expressed appreciation for those who have served in the armed forces, emphasizing the importance of protecting their rights while they are deployed.
Cooper noted that military service can place significant strain on families, citing U.S. Census Bureau data indicating that members of the military experience higher divorce rates than any other occupation. She said, “In speaking with veterans, I know being deployed away from those we love is an incredible sacrifice. This is why I happily supported Act 40 of 2025, which protects a parent’s rights during military deployment.”
Act 40 of 2025 addresses child custody concerns for deployed parents by preventing permanent changes to custody or visitation orders during deployment. The law also allows parents to delegate visitation rights and encourages communication between parents and children through video calls when in-person visits are not possible.
The statute outlines procedures for temporary custody arrangements before deployment and reinstates previous custody orders upon the parent’s return. Courts may permit another family member with a close relationship to care for the child during deployment. The law instructs courts not to consider military service as a negative factor in custody decisions and permits electronic participation in hearings if military duties prevent personal attendance.
Cooper explained her support for the measure by saying, “As I reviewed the proposal, I put myself in the place of a young child. It is widely known that children need and deserve stability and predictability.” She added that Act 40 passed both legislative chambers without opposition and was signed into law last month.
She also referenced Act 10 of 2025, which extends state veterans benefits to Korean nationals who served alongside U.S. forces during the Vietnam War and later became American citizens. This follows federal action with the passage of the Korean American Vietnam Allies Long Overdue for Relief Act (VALOR Act) in November 2023, which addressed longstanding inequities regarding veterans benefits for these individuals.
With Act 10 now enacted in Pennsylvania, eligible veterans from South Korea who served between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975—and qualify for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits—are entitled to state-level benefits available to other Pennsylvania veterans.
Cooper shared additional community updates ahead of Thanksgiving. She reminded residents that state offices will be closed on November 27 and November 28 for the holiday; PennDOT Driver License Centers will also be closed but online services remain accessible at dmv.pa.gov.
She encouraged hunters to participate in Hunters Sharing the Harvest (HSH), a statewide program allowing hunters to donate venison through participating processors to food pantries across Pennsylvania. Since its inception in 1991, HSH has distributed three million pounds of donated venison to people in need. More information about this program can be found at https://sharedeer.org/.
Finally, Cooper urged constituents to support local businesses during the holiday season—especially on Small Business Saturday on November 29—which was launched by American Express in 2010 as an annual event following Thanksgiving to promote shopping at small businesses within communities.
