One new law expands the Military Family Relief Fund, a program originally created to help post-9/11 veterans pay food, housing, utility, transportation and medical bills.

The proposed legislation would expand the Military Family Relief Fund to include combat veterans who served before 9-11.

House Bill 1057 focuses on improving the lives of homeless Indiana National Guard veterans who do not current qualify for federal benefits. These veterans were placed on active duty service, but did not meet the required length of service to qualify for federal assistance.

The effort follows up on Donnelly's 2014 legislation that allowed all military members to receive annual mental health screenings.

The Indiana National Guard announced Tuesday that an initiative called Joining Community Forces Indiana will help provide resources to community groups across the state to help military members and veterans find jobs and gain financial literacy and assistance.

Fourteen survivors of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis during World War II gathered in Indianapolis to mark the 70th anniversary of the attack.