Bill Text: CA AJR35 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Joint Resolution 35 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: The federal Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-06-16 - Referred to Com. on M. & V.A. [AJR35 Detail]

Download: California-2021-AJR35-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Joint Resolution

No. 35

Introduced by Assembly Member Mathis

June 06, 2022

Relative to Veterans’ Education Benefits.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AJR 35, as introduced, Mathis. The federal Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program.

This measure would urge the federal government to retroactively grant Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to the dependents of service members who were killed in action, missing in action, detained by a hostile foreign entity, or totally and permanently disabled in the line of duty but did not receive educational benefits.

Fiscal Committee: NO

WHEREAS, California and the United States would not be free without our more than 1,700,000 veterans, including service members who were killed in action or disabled in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, California is the proud home of more than 163,000 women veterans; nearly 500,000 veterans who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color; and the most LGBTQIA+ veterans in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Californians honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans and recognize the invaluable support military families offer service members and veterans; and

WHEREAS, In addition to their selfless service to our nation, many veterans enlisted or commissioned in the United States Armed Forces to ensure a better life for all of our families; and

WHEREAS, In pursuit of a better life, many veterans’ dependents have enrolled in and graduated from colleges and universities; and

WHEREAS, It is our duty to ensure all Californians, including veterans’ dependents, who have worked hard and succeeded in school can afford college; and

WHEREAS, A four-year degree at a California State University costs upwards of $110,000, and Californians collectively owe more than $141,800,000,000 in student loan debt and average $37,084 per borrower; and

WHEREAS, Through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program, the United States promises educational benefits to the dependents of service members who are killed in action, missing in action, detained by a hostile foreign entity, or totally and permanently disabled in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, A veteran and their dependent must submit an application to the VA to receive DEA benefits; and

WHEREAS, Not all veterans—for reasons including survivor’s guilt and post-traumatic stress—have had the opportunity to submit an application to receive DEA benefits for their dependents, tragically depriving their dependents of their rightfully earned benefits; and

WHEREAS, Our veterans’ sacrifices are not diminished by some of their inability, due to reasons including survivor’s guilt and post-traumatic stress, to complete an application; and

WHEREAS, Veterans’ dependents should be no less entitled to VA educational benefits, and their own sacrifices not impugned, because of an incomplete VA form that is no fault of their own; and

WHEREAS, A veteran who is able to enroll in their veteran’s benefits is less likely to commit suicide; and

WHEREAS, Twenty-two veterans commit suicide every day—a national crisis that must end; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the Congress of the United States to consider retroactively granting DEA benefits in the form of educational loan forgiveness to the dependents of service members who were killed in action, missing in action, detained by a hostile foreign entity, or totally and permanently disabled in the line of duty but did not receive educational benefits; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.