THOMPSON BILL EXTENDING HIGHER EDUCATION TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR
01/26/2007
Dear Fellow Republicans:
Congratulations to our own Assemblyman Sam Thompson. He’s getting things done – even with an obstinate, corrupt majority in Trenton. And he’s helping our brave troops – the best this nation has to offer. What a great leader! Please see below:
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Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Sam Thompson that would allow National Guard members who are called into active duty to utilize state tuition assistance credits after their enlistment expires was signed into law this week by Governor Jon Corzine.
“This new law will correct an injustice,” said Thompson, R-Middlesex and Monmouth. “No longer will members of the New Jersey National Guard lose their tuition assistance credits because they were sent overseas to serve their country.”
Under the old law, active members of the New Jersey National Guard may receive up to 15 credits per semester tuition free from public institutions of higher education in the State. Similarly, the child or surviving spouse of a National Guard member killed in the performance of his duties may also receive this benefit.
This bill, A-2542, amended the law to extend eligibility for this higher education tuition benefit to members of the New Jersey National Guard whose use of the free tuition benefit is interrupted by a deployment to active duty. The change would permit these soldiers to receive their earned educational benefits should their enlistment expire, or should they be medically discharged, prior to completing their studies.
Lauren Pecoraro of East Brunswick and Tony Rispoli of Old Bridge had testified at a hearing last year in favor of Thompson’s bill. Both were placed on active duty and deployed to Iraq for a year, in addition to six months training leading up to their deployment.
“This bill will allow New Jersey National Guard members like Lauren and Tony, who were unable to take advantage of the tuition credit program because of their deployment, to do so when they return,” Thompson said. “It would be the ultimate irony if they were to lose this benefit that they earned through their service, because they missed out on the opportunity to use these credits when called upon to serve active duty. They have earned this tuition assistance and they should not be denied access to these funds.”
The new law will also increase the number of credits eligible for funding under this program from 15 to 16 per semester.
The bill cleared both houses of the Legislature in December and was signed by the Governor Wednesday.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Adam Puharic, Chairman
Monmouth County Republican Party
www.MonmouthRepublican.org
info@MonmouthRepublican.org
732.431.6664
Dear Fellow Republicans:
Congratulations to our own Assemblyman Sam Thompson. He’s getting things done – even with an obstinate, corrupt majority in Trenton. And he’s helping our brave troops – the best this nation has to offer. What a great leader! Please see below:
------------
Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Sam Thompson that would allow National Guard members who are called into active duty to utilize state tuition assistance credits after their enlistment expires was signed into law this week by Governor Jon Corzine.
“This new law will correct an injustice,” said Thompson, R-Middlesex and Monmouth. “No longer will members of the New Jersey National Guard lose their tuition assistance credits because they were sent overseas to serve their country.”
Under the old law, active members of the New Jersey National Guard may receive up to 15 credits per semester tuition free from public institutions of higher education in the State. Similarly, the child or surviving spouse of a National Guard member killed in the performance of his duties may also receive this benefit.
This bill, A-2542, amended the law to extend eligibility for this higher education tuition benefit to members of the New Jersey National Guard whose use of the free tuition benefit is interrupted by a deployment to active duty. The change would permit these soldiers to receive their earned educational benefits should their enlistment expire, or should they be medically discharged, prior to completing their studies.
Lauren Pecoraro of East Brunswick and Tony Rispoli of Old Bridge had testified at a hearing last year in favor of Thompson’s bill. Both were placed on active duty and deployed to Iraq for a year, in addition to six months training leading up to their deployment.
“This bill will allow New Jersey National Guard members like Lauren and Tony, who were unable to take advantage of the tuition credit program because of their deployment, to do so when they return,” Thompson said. “It would be the ultimate irony if they were to lose this benefit that they earned through their service, because they missed out on the opportunity to use these credits when called upon to serve active duty. They have earned this tuition assistance and they should not be denied access to these funds.”
The new law will also increase the number of credits eligible for funding under this program from 15 to 16 per semester.
The bill cleared both houses of the Legislature in December and was signed by the Governor Wednesday.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Adam Puharic, Chairman
Monmouth County Republican Party
www.MonmouthRepublican.org
info@MonmouthRepublican.org
732.431.6664
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posted by Uncle Sam | 8:00 PM
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