CONNERS URGES FEDS TO ENACT EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT FOR POST 9-11 VETERANS

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Veterans and Military Affairs Committee today released a measure Assemblyman Jack Conners sponsored urging the federal government to enact bipartisan legislation to provide returning soldiers with enhanced post-service educational benefits.

"The inability of the federal government to provide a meaningful tuition benefit to our men and women in uniform is preventing countless soldiers from being able to move their lives forward once their service to our nation has ended," said Conners (D-Burlington/Camden), chairman of the Assembly Military Affairs and Veterans Committee.  "We owe it these veterans who have sacrificed so much to make good on our debt of gratitude by ensuring that their higher educational costs are fully-covered."

Conners' measure (AR-106) would memorialize Congress and President George W. Bush to enact the "Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007."  The federal legislation would substantially increase the education resources available to those who served in the Armed Forces after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

"Current higher education benefits are not enough to cover the rising costs of higher education for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan," said Conners.  "Just as the GI Bill promised the heroes of World War II the opportunity to build a brighter future for themselves and their families, our soldiers today deserve the same promise."

The measure was released 5 to 0.  It now heads to the Assembly Speaker who may or may not decide to post it for a floor vote.

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