ASSEMBLY PASSES CONNERS BILL URGING FEDS TO UPDATE EDUCATIONAL AID FOR POST 9-11 VETERANS

ASSEMBLY PASSES CONNERS BILL URGING FEDS
TO UPDATE EDUCATIONAL AID FOR POST 9-11 VETERANS

(TRENTON) - The Assembly today passed a measure Assemblyman Jack Conners is sponsoring to urge 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."

According to a recent Star-Ledger article, the new Montgomery GI Bill pays just two-thirds of the average cost of four years at a public college and less than half the cost of a private school. 

"Supporting our troops shouldn't be viewed as an expense - it's an investment," said Conners.  "We must do all we can to ensure veterans who return home have every opportunity to seamless return as successful and contributing members of society."

The measure passed the Assembly 79 to 0.  It now will be filed with the Secretary of State and authenticated copies will be sent to President George W. Bush, leaders of the Unites State Senate and House of Representatives, and all members of the state's congressional delegation. Senate for further consideration.

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