“One of the many hardships military families face when they move from base to base is their children’s inability to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public universities. Given the sacrifices being made by our military families, it is wrong to raise a military child’s college tuition by $10,000 to $20,000 a year when a parent is re-stationed to a military base in a different state,” said Rep. Edwards, Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.

Specifically, the amendment mandates in-state tuition benefits for military dependents if their parent is stationed or domiciled in that state, as well as when a military child’s parent is re-stationed outside of a state after the son or daughter has started college.

Rep. Edwards said, “Granting military children the ability to pay in-state tuition rates throughout the country means many will no longer have to give up their education goals when their parents’ military orders come in. Part of keeping our promise of to our service men and women is making sure that their children are not penalized simply because their parents have answered their country’s call to serve.”

Rep. Boyda said, "When military service members sign up to serve America, they willingly make many sacrifices. They give up control of where they live and work, and they risk losing their lives. They shouldn't have to sacrifice their children's future, too."

As stated in a previous story in this Newsletter, AUSA President Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan congratulated Rep. Edwards during their meeting last week. Gen. Sullivan said, “In-state tuition for service members and their families has been a goal of the Association’s for many years. It is included in our Resolutions for 2008 and we are grateful for Reps. Edwards and Boyda that our goal has been passed in the House. The ability to deliver a quality of life that meets the needs of our soldiers and their families worldwide is central to attracting and retaining high quality soldiers.”