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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 5, 2013 03:09 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Thomas P. Murt |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Priority Registration for Current Military Service Personnel and Veterans |
| In the near future, I plan on introducing legislation to establish higher education registration priority for military servicemen and women and for honorably discharged veterans. Each year veterans transition from the military and enter into college life across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in overwhelming proportions. For those who use Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, more than 300,000 military students have used these new benefits to enroll in college or graduate schools. Currently, across the nation 800,000 to 900,000 veterans are attending higher education institutions. Last year, the VA disbursed over $5.7 billion in benefits to approximately 381,000 student veterans, an increase of almost 20 percent from 2010. The VA expects these numbers to increase dramatically over the next few years due to the current drawbacks of our missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. That is why I believe higher education institutions must be prepared to handle veteran issues and concerns. This legislation requires colleges, universities, and institutions of higher learning in Pennsylvania, to provide honorable discharged veterans and current members of the National Guard and the Reserve Component with priority registration. This will allow these man and women the opportunity to schedule classes earlier, thus maximizing their finite VA educational benefits. At present, priority registration is afforded to varsity athletes and other selected populations. Veterans deserve this same consideration. Our veterans in the Commonwealth face time restraints to finish their degree programs before their VA benefits run out. This legislation will allow our veterans more flexibility in the utilization of their well-earned benefits. If you have any questions regarding this legislation, please contact my office at 787-6886. |
Introduced as HB1164