Virginia General Assembly repeals VMSDEP language, veterans say it’s a ‘slight relief’

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — After months of debate and disagreement, the Virginia General Assembly has agreed to repeal recent changes to a program designed to help the children and spouses of qualified disabled military veterans attend college.

Back in May, lawmakers made the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP), which waives college tuition for the kids and spouses of qualified disabled military veterans, harder for families to access.

“We clearly made a mistake in the changes in the program and once we realized that and acknowledged that, we made our best attempt today to fix it,” Senator Richard Stuart (R-King George) said.

However, after months of intense political pressure, both the House of Delegates and Senate repealed those changes and allocated an additional $45 million a year to help colleges that provide the waivers.

“We want to make sure that the funding is there so that the colleges and universities don’t have to increase tuition and fees that get passed on to other students who are having to depend on grants and financial aid to get through school themselves,” Senator Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) explained.

However, advocates say the fight is far from over. They say lawmakers could come back next year and decide once again to make changes to the program.

“Even somebody that was given the okay today, they can start their program today, but that doesn’t mean the legislature can’t come back and say ‘Now, we are pulling the rug again,'” Friends of VMSDEP Founder Kayla Owen told News Channel 11’s sister station in Richmond, 8News.

Several Senators acknowledged that, because the program has grown so much in cost over the last few years, they will need to work with stakeholders to address the long-term financial viability of the program.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin shared the following statement on Thursday afternoon after signing the bill:

“We stand resolute with our veterans, first responders, and their families. Today, with my signature, we took the necessary step to reverse and fully repeal changes to VMSDEP and provided significant new funding for the program. We will continue our work to make Virginia the best place for our military, veterans, first responders and their families to live, work, raise a family, and retire. We will always honor the sacrifice of all our military heroes, Gold Star families, first responders, and all those who have served their nation and their Commonwealth. We know that freedom is not free.”

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