Navigation
National Guard Tuition Bill Sees Local Support
This article was in Thursday’s (February 15th, 2018) Herald and News
Written By: Stephen Floyd, H&N Staff Reporter
Local officials are backing a statewide measure that would provide tuition assistance to Oregon National Guard members attending public community colleges and universities.
House Bill 4035, sponsored by Rep. Mike McLane (R-Powell Butte) and Gene Whisnant (R-Sunriver), was introduced at the start of the short session Feb. 5 and is currently before committee.
HB 4035 would allow the state to cover all tuition costs for Oregon National Guard members seeking an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree through a public school, including up to 70 credit hours at a community college and up to 120 hours at a university. If the student has other assistance such as grants or scholarships, the state would only cover the remainder of their costs, if any.
Klamath County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot said Oregon has fallen behind other states in the U.S. that offer this type of assistance for National Guard members and said it’s about time they started.
“We are a state that has always very proudly displayed how much we support our veterans and military members,” he said.
DeGroot said the bill currently has the support of Gov. Kate Brown and has been endorsed by the likes of the Oregon Military Department. Though the fiscal impact of the bill has yet to be determined, DeGroot estimated it may cost between $3 million and $4 million annually.
“It’ll be real money, but it’s not huge,” he said.
DeGroot was in Salem Tuesday with fellow commissioners and other area leaders to show support for proposals including HB 4035. Among them was Col. Jeff Smith, of Kingsley Field, whom DeGroot said offered support for the bill.
Smith could not be reached for comment prior to deadline.
DeGroot said Smith’s support was a blessing for the bill, as Smith commands the 173rd Fighter Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard, based out of Kingsley. DeGroot said Klamath Falls has a unique relationship with Smith’s unit as both the community and airmen show strong support for one another.
“It makes you really proud of how this community really embraces folks over at the base,” he said.
HB 4035 has been submitted for review to the Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee before referral to the Ways and Means Committee.
To read this article and others on the Herald and News website, please refer to the following link:
