COMMITTEE APPROVES McHOSE-MUÑOZ VETERANS EDUCATION BENEFITS RESOLUTION

A resolution urging the President and Congress to enact legislation that would allow all Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans to transfer their education benefits to dependents was approved today by the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee. It is sponsored by Assemblywomen Alison Littell McHose, R-24, and Nancy F. Muñoz, R-21.

Under the “Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007,” only members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan on or after August 1, 2009, are eligible to transfer their education benefits to their spouses or children. As a result, war veterans who served following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but ended their service prior to August 1, 2009, are unable to transfer their education benefits to their dependents.

“Certainly, this benefit should apply to those who served between 2001 and July 2009," said McHose. "To do otherwise, is grossly unfair to both our soldiers and their families who have both made enormous sacrifices. Excluding them from sharing in this benefit when they were the first ones to answer the call following the terrorist attacks on our country on September 11, 2001, is wrong. This resolution calls on the President and Congress to correct this oversight.”

“We owe an incredible debt to all the men and women who served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan following the terrorist attacks on our nation in 2001," stated Muñoz. "It shouldn't matter whether they were the first or last to go. All the spouses and children of our war veterans should be afforded the same benefits. They all sacrificed the same regardless of when they served. I would hope that our federal officials will amend the current legislation so that it is equitable for all.”

The McHose/Muñoz resolution, ACR-153, respectfully urges the President and Congress to enact legislation that permits all veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, including those who fought between 2001 and 2009, to transfer their education benefits to their dependents. This resolution came about after a war veteran reached out to Assemblywoman McHose asking for assistance to get this federal law change.
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