Bill Text: NJ SCR121 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges the President and Congress to enact legislation that permits all veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to transfer their education benefits to dependents.
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-10-04 - Substituted by ACR124 [SCR121 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-SCR121-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Senator CHRISTOPHER "KIP" BATEMAN
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Urges the President and Congress to enact legislation that permits all veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to transfer their education benefits to dependents.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution urging the President and Congress to enact legislation that permits all veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to transfer their education benefits to dependents.
Whereas, According to the "Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007," only members of the United States Armed Forces serving on or after August 1, 2009 may be eligible to transfer their education benefits to their spouses or children; and
Whereas, Under this law, thousands of brave veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, but ended their service prior to August 1, 2009, will be unable to transfer their education benefits to their dependents; and
Whereas, The men and women of America's Armed Forces selflessly serve to protect our nation and have risked their lives in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan so that Americans can live in freedom and security; and
Whereas, By making enormous sacrifices and offering love and support to those serving in the Armed Forces, the spouses and children of service members provide an invaluable contribution to our country; and
Whereas, As a result of precluding veterans who ended their service prior to August 1, 2009 from transferring their education benefits to dependents, many of these veterans will not utilize these hard-earned benefits; and
Whereas, Despite the fact that the veterans who served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan prior to August 1, 2009 courageously sacrificed for their country, they are unable to have the same opportunity as veterans serving on or after this date to lessen the financial burden of providing a quality education for their children; and
WHEREAS, The nation owes an incredible debt to those who have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and to the families of these honorable veterans, and it is imperative that this debt be fulfilled by permitting all veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to transfer their education benefits to their dependents; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):
1. The President and Congress are respectfully urged to enact legislation that permits all veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to transfer their education benefits to dependents.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and the President of the Senate and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly and the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to the President and Vice-President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This concurrent resolution respectfully urges the President and Congress to enact legislation that permits all veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to transfer their education benefits to dependents. According to the "Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007," only those members of the United States Armed Forces serving on or after August 1, 2009 may be eligible to transfer their education benefits to their spouses or children. Under this law, thousands of brave veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, but ended their service prior to August 1, 2009, will be unable to transfer their education benefits to their dependents.
The brave men and women of America's Armed Forces selflessly serve to protect our nation and have risked their lives in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan so that Americans can live in freedom and security. The nation owes an incredible debt to those who have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and to the families of these honorable veterans, and it is imperative that this debt be fulfilled by permitting all veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to transfer their education benefits to their dependents.
