The California branch of the Veterans of Foreign Wars recently named Assemblyman Chuck DeVore as one of its Legislators of the Year for his efforts to boost educational and funeral benefits to veterans in the state.

DeVore serves on the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs and co-wrote Assembly Bill 187 last year, increasing the amount a county can pay for a veteran’s funeral from $50 to $350. DeVore also proposed Assembly Bill 1758, which would start an education assistance program to bolster membership and retention in the California National Guard.

DeVore also teamed up with State Sen. Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), to write Assembly Bill 1814 to authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to contract with Veterans Service Organizations for the assistance of veterans and families in applying for federal benefits and services. Correa and DeVore also wrote Assembly Bill 282, making it a misdemeanor to fake a military decoration. The veterans group named Correa as its other Legislator of the Year.