Suffolk County Ed Romaine, joined at a press conference by the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee Nick Caracappa, Legislator Chad Lennon, Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Edward Bonahue, and Suffolk County Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Services Jim Brennan, called on Governor Hochul to sign a bill to provide more educational aid for higher education.
“The diversity of the men and women of the Armed Forces represents every city and small town in this country,” said Romaine. “They have all volunteered for service, committing their lives to their country. We owe them every opportunity to flourish in civilian life for these sacrifices. Our veterans need counseling, housing, financial assistance, better medical care, and education.”
New York State has long provided a veterans tuition award program to ensure that the cost of a college degree or vocational training program is not an insurmountable barrier. The state program can help bridge the gap when federal assistance does not cover additional costs.
“A veteran is a veteran, no matter when or in what capacity they served. Every veteran has gone through the rigors of training to be “combat” ready should that call to duty be summoned. It is why every veteran deserves the same opportunities so when they exit their tour of duty or length of service, they can succeed in life after their service to this country has ended,” said Caracappa. “As Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee of the Suffolk County Legislature, I will do everything I can to provide equal support for all of our veterans."
However, state law makes these benefits available only to eligible combat veterans and not all who have served.
“Secluding State education assistance to only veterans in combat misses an entire demographic of veterans who signed up for service during wartime,” said Legislator Chad Lennon, a combat veteran and Major in the Marine Corps. “We have service members who transported and prepared the bodies of service members who were killed in action. Our State must recognize all veterans who served to support and defend our Nation.”
Legislation passed in Albany this year would change that, opening this critical tuition award program to all who served in whatever way their country saw fit.
“Suffolk County is home to more veterans than any other county in New York State,” said Romaine. “Governor Hochul, I respectfully urge you to act and sign this bill into law before the end of the year.”