Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO) is fighting to protect a program that many troops rely to further their education while serving our country. Tipton is a co-sponsor of The Save Military Tuition Act (H.R. 1039) which would restore funding for military tuition assistance programs.
As the result of a Department of Defense memorandum announced last week, the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard have suspended their respective programs that provide tuition assistance of up to $4500 a year for active-duty troops and reservists as well as members of the National Guard. According to the Army, the tuition assistance program (TA) assisted more than 200,000 Army soldiers in 2012, and "TA is directly related to retaining quality Soldiers, enhancing their career progression, increasing the combat readiness of the Army, and returning Soldiers to civilian careers."*
Restoration of the funding for these programs is fully paid for in the bill by cutting $500 million in unspent foreign aid from the $1.5 billion our country is currently sending to Egypt.
"Our nation must uphold its commitment to our troops, and that includes preserving these important programs that afford them with the opportunity to further their education," Tipton said. "There are far better ways to implement budget reforms than to strip away benefits from the men and women who defend our nation. Before sending taxpayer dollars overseas to fund foreign governments, we must meet our obligations here at home. That is what this commonsense bill seeks to do."
Tipton has also co-sponsored legislation in this Congress to ensure access to quality health care for veterans in rural areas, as well as a measure to protect the integrity of military awards. Read more.