‘We must deliver for our vets’: Gov. Youngkin advocates for Virginia’s military tuition assistance program after Senate fails to take action

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — After the Democratic-controlled Virginia State Senate again failed to pass legislation Monday afternoon repealing the recent changes to the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, Governor Glenn Youngkin is voicing his frustrations.

In May, lawmakers made the program — which waives college tuition for the kids and spouses of qualified disabled military veterans — harder for families to access , though the House of Delegates then voted to fully repeal those changes .

In the Senate, on Monday, July 1, Democrats advanced a bill that would repeal the changes but still require students to make satisfactory academic progress. However, Republicans — who were against the bill because it was not a full repeal — decided against supporting a procedural move that would have allowed the bill to proceed to final passage.

8News Anchors Autumn Childress and Delaney Hall spoke to Youngkin in the morning on Tuesday, July 2, regarding this lack of action, which he called a “refusal to go to work for veterans.”

“[Democratic senators] refused to pass a bipartisan bill that had come out of the House unanimously, it’s hurting our veterans,” Youngkin said.

Youngkin further described the significance that the program has for those that rely on it.

“This program, which provides for educational benefits for survivors and dependents of our military and our first responder heroes, is critical and there is bipartisan support across the General Assembly. I support it. We must reverse the damage that has been done here,” Youngkin explained.

Youngkin further advocated for the program’s support and for continuing to work on the bill through the “normal legislative process.”

“There is no community in Virginia that has done more for our nation and for our Commonwealth than our veterans and our first responders,” Youngkin added.

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