Virginia House votes to reverse controversial changes to tuition assistance program

RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) - The Virginia House of Delegates has voted to repeal controversial changes to the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education program.

That’s the tuition assistance program for the families of military service members and first responders killed or disabled in the line of duty.

“It’s often been said that if you find yourself in a hole you don’t want to be in, stop digging. Well Mr. Speaker, today I’m glad we stopped digging,” said Del. Michael Cherry, during the House floor session Friday morning.

Members of the House moved quickly to reverse the budget language that tightened eligibility for the tuition assistance program and touched off a firestorm of criticism.

The bill is now headed to the State Senate, where Senate Finance Committee Chair Louise Lucas has said she intends to consider a different measure.

Military and first responder families have been calling for a full repeal, and they provided emotional testimony during a Senate hearing Friday.

“It’s very unfair, and it’s caused our family to relive the worst moments of our entire life,” said one speaker.

“There are many, many families holding this in fear and anger right now whose homes are filled with rage and tears,” added another.

“We’re not some line in a budget plan. We’re real people and we have suffered real and significant and devastating losses,” said a third.

After the vote in the House of Delegates, Gov. Glenn Youngkin released a statement urging members of the Senate to do the same.

Following is the full text of Youngkin’s sttement:

“Thank you to Speaker Scott, Leader Gilbert, Chairman Torian, Delegate Cherry and the entire House of Delegates for unanimously passing a full, clean repeal and reversal of the eligibility changes to VMSDEP,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Our veterans, first responders, and their families have spoken, and we have heard them. Now it is time for the Senate to pass the bill on Monday, so I can sign it immediately. We must ensure that any potential changes to the program occur transparently in a regular legislative session with input from our valued veterans and their families. On February 12, 2024, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee voted unanimously to study VMSDEP before making any changes to it, and on February 13, 2024, the full Senate voted unanimously to pass that bill. Sending HB 6003 to my desk will have the same effect. Between the Preserving VMSDEP Task Force, which includes veterans, military families, senior legislators, administration officials, and higher education leaders, and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee Working Group, we have all the right people at the table to continue our work to keep this program sustainable for the future. If the Senate Democrat Leadership does not support a repeal of the language, they are holding our veterans, first responders, and their families, hostage. It is time to do the right thing.”

Members of the Senate return to the State Capitol Monday

There is support in the Senate for the full repeal, but it’s unclear if the bill passed by the House or an alternate proposal will reach the floor of the Senate during Monday’s session.

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