Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (D-San Fernando Valley) introduced legislation to help the veterans of the nation’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan go to college. “We owe this generation of
veterans and their families a debt for the incredible sacrifices made for our country,” said Blumenfield. “We can honor these veterans by making their ability to attend college a priority for the State of California. By making this commitment, we can help our veterans achieve the American Dream which they fought to protect. With one state college and three community colleges in the San Fernando Valley, this mini GI Bill is a very exciting prospect.” Assembly Bill (AB) 2133 has two components.
The bill requires California’s community colleges and state colleges to grant priority enrollment to the veterans of our nation’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This would be without time limit and apply to all degrees offered within our state’s higher education system. The bill also reduces the time needed for veterans to obtain residency for the purposes of tuition to 6-months from one year. These provisions would apply only to veterans who were honorably discharged from military service. “Coming back from combat, many veterans find barriers to transferring their training and experience to other fields,” added Blumenfield. “By passing this bill, we can welcome home today’s veterans by providing them with opportunities to build a successful and prosperous future.” See www.leginfo.ca.gov for more info.