Bill Would Provide College Education to Spouse and Children of Those Killed by War
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators John A. Girgenti, and Joseph Coniglio which would provide scholarships for the spouse or children of a New Jersey resident who is killed while fighting the War on Terror, was approved by the Senate Education Committee today.
“The military is fighting every day for freedom and we must make every effort to not forget our fallen soldiers’ family members who are struggling to cope with their loss,” said Senator Girgenti, Chairman of the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee. “We need to ease the burden of surviving family members, and one way to do so is by ensuring that the spouses and children receive a college education.
“The federal government offers a similar scholarship fund that provides education and training opportunities, but the bill I am sponsoring will supplement any federal program,” said Senator Girgenti, D-Bergen and Passaic.
The bill, S-531, would establish the Military Survivors Scholarship Fund to be used to pay for undergraduate studies at a public or private college.
“For those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice during the war in Iraq, the least we can do is make sure that their family is taken care of,” said Senator Coniglio, D-Bergen. “The children of these brave American heroes should never have to worry about how to pay for college when their mom or dad is no longer there to help.”
The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.