The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act, legislation introduced by Kansas Senator Jerry Moran, and Democratic Senator Jon Tester of Montana.
The legislation aims to expand in-state tuition eligibility for the families of veterans who die from service-connected disabilities.
The Dependents Education Assistance (DEA) program provides VA education benefits–which includes tuition, housing and book stipends–to the children or spouse of a servicemember who is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, died while on active duty prior to 9/11, or dies as a result of a service-connected disability.
The act would require public colleges and universities that receive GI Bill benefits to provide in-state tuition rates for students using DEA.
The legislation is named after U.S. Army Colonel John McHugh, who was killed in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2010 while he and his family were stationed at Fort Leavenworth. His daughter was attending Kansas State University at the time of his death. The goal of the act is to help reduce the out-of-pocket education costs for surviving spouses and children.
“Military service is family service,” said Sen. Moran. “This country has made a commitment to care for the families of fallen servicemembers. The Senate acted upon that commitment and passed this legislation that will make certain the families of servicemembers, who have died from disabilities from their service to our country, receive the benefits their loved ones have earned for them through their service. I urge my colleagues in the House to quickly pass this legislation.”
This legislation will now be sent to the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote.
