S2956

TRENTON � A measure sponsored by Senators John H. Adler and Shirley K. Turner which would amend the laws that created the NJ STARS I and NJ STARS II programs to provide a military services exemption for NJ STARS scholarship recipients who are called to active duty received unanimous final legislative approval today by the full Senate.

�We should do everything we can to show our veterans how highly we regard them and the work they do to protect our country and our freedom,� said Senator Adler, D-Cherry Hill. �This is one of the many ways that government can and should embrace our veterans.�

�This legislation is about helping to ensure that we honor our service members who are called into active duty while working to obtain a college degree,� said Senator Turner, D-Mercer, who chairs the Senate Education Committee. �As they risk their lives helping to protect us, we must also work to ensure that their educational opportunities are protected here at home.�

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators John H. Adler and Shirley K. Turner which would amend the laws that created the NJ STARS I and II programs to provide a military services exemption for NJ STARS scholarship recipients who are called to active duty was unanimously approved today by the Senate Education Committee.

“The NJ STARS I and II programs were created to help give some of New Jersey’s best students the chance to attend a two year and a four year university for free,” said Senator Adler, D-Cherry Hill. “It is incredibly unfair to penalize students who are in the military and are willing to put their lives on the line, simply because of a technicality in the legislation. By amending the law, we would be giving these brave men and women the chance to obtain a bachelors degree, while thanking them for their military service at the same time.”

“This legislation would work to ensure that the State of New Jersey honors its service members who are called into active duty while matriculating,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer, who chairs the Senate Education Panel. “As they work to ensure our freedom, we must also work to protect their educational opportunities here at home.”