Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SR 298: Bennett, LaVeda; recognize
Last action February 28, 2025 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution formally recognizes and commends LaVeda Bennett, a retired Marine Corps veteran and community advocate, for her military service and decades of volunteer work.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This resolution is a ceremonial honor passed by the Georgia Senate rather than a change to state law. It recognizes LaVeda Bennett, who served 20 years in the United States Marine Corps and has since spent more than 100,000 volunteer hours advocating for veterans, especially women and homeless veterans. The resolution details her background, her military service, her work with the Atlanta VA Women's Wellness Clinic, her role in DeKalb County's 'She Served Too' proclamation, and community programs she launched such as 'Her Valor,' 'Watch Me Grow,' and 'Carey's Garden.' It directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for Bennett as a keepsake. It does not create any new rule, program, or funding.
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes and commends LaVeda Bennett for her military service and community advocacy work.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute an official copy of the resolution to Bennett.
- Creates no new law, funding, or program; it is a ceremonial statement by the Senate.
Who it affects
The resolution directly names and honors LaVeda Bennett. It also references the Atlanta VA Women's Wellness Clinic and DeKalb, Clayton, and Henry county officials she has worked with, though it imposes no obligations on them.
Why it matters
The resolution has no legal or regulatory effect on Georgians generally. Its significance is symbolic: it gives official state recognition to one veteran's decades of service and community volunteer work, particularly her advocacy for women and homeless veterans.
Key provisions
- The resolution's preamble ('whereas' clauses) recounts Bennett's Marine Corps service, awards, and community programs as the basis for recognition.
- The resolving clause formally commends Bennett for her service, advocacy, and community dedication and wishes her continued success.
- A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to produce a copy of the resolution for distribution to Bennett.
From the bill
“she enlisted in the United States Marine Corps a day before her 20th birthday, serving for 20 years and participating in major conflicts while excelling as a member of the All-Marine Women's Softball Team”
“she has amassed over 100,000 volunteer hours advocating for veterans, particularly women and homeless veterans, earning two Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Tonya Anderson (D, SD-43)
- Gail Davenport (D, SD-17)
- Kenya Wicks (D, SD-34)
- Michael 'Doc' Rhett (D, SD-33)
- Ed Harbison (D, SD-15)
- Freddie Powell Sims (D, SD-12)
- Derek Mallow (D, SD-2)
- Harold Jones II (D, SD-22)
- Elena Parent (D, SD-44)
- Randal Mangham (D, SD-55)
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
- Nikki Merritt (D, SD-9)
- Jason Esteves (D, SD-35)
- Sally Harrell (D, SD-40)
Topics
- veterans
- military service
- community recognition
- DeKalb County