Student Aid And Fiscal Responsibility Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

Mr. CHILDERS. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 3221, and I ask my colleagues for their support of my amendment to H.R. 3221 and our Nation's veterans. I want to thank the chairman and the committee for making my amendment in order today.

This amendment would require campus veterans resource officers to act as a link between student veterans and mental health care providers at the Department of Veterans Affairs. With the support of veterans resource officers on university and college campuses, student veterans will be better connected to vital services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and will be better prepared to complete their studies.

With the recent implementation of the post-9/11 GI Bill, veterans have greater affordability and access to higher education and training. My amendment would help ensure that student veterans are able to complete their degree and graduate.

When the recently deployed National Guard Members from my district in Mississippi return, I want to see these education benefits accessed by veterans, and help those veterans to succeed in their college careers. I would like to especially commend the unprecedented investments in community colleges included in H.R. 3221. Community colleges in Mississippi are some of the best in the Nation. They play an important role in preparing students for tomorrow's workforce. A community college education is one of the best investments a student can make.

I thank our veterans for their service to our Nation, and I encourage them to access the training and education benefits they have earned. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important amendment.

I reserve my time.

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