California Governor Schwarzenegger Calls for College Tuition Assistance for California National Guard Members

07/06/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today called for the passage of a budget proposal that will provide $1.7 million in funding for members of the California National Guard to receive college tuition assistance.

“My budget would establish a program to provide tuition assistance to members of the California National Guard. It is unconscionable that we are the only state that does not offer this benefit,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Many of these troops are in harm’s way and separated from their families for months at a time. Education will assist veterans making the transition back to civilian life through better jobs and greater opportunities.”

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The Governor’s proposal would allow an individual to receive tuition assistance in return for agreeing to enlist or reenlist in the California National Guard. The benefit would pay the annual cost for resident fees at a California College or University for eligible in exchange for a California National Guard member agreeing to serve an additional year in the Guard, up to four years. Soldiers and Airmen participating in the program would be required to serve an additional year in exchange for receiving financial assistance to pay for 1 to 24 credit hours.

The Governor also called on Congress to pass legislation that would allow California to offer low-interest home loans to returning wartime veterans.

The Governor’s announcements were made at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new $300 million state veterans’ home in West Los Angeles, the largest state veterans’ home project in the nation. The Governor was joined by U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson and California Secretary of Veterans Affairs Tom Johnson.

In 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 1077, authorizing $100 million in lease-revenue bonds to finance five new state-operated homes. Also in 2004, the Governor negotiated a plan between the state and federal governments that ended a 15-year deadlock on the issue, established a plan, and committed federal money to complete the $300 million project.

The West Los Angeles Veterans Home, together with the Lancaster and Ventura Veterans Homes, form the Greater Los Angeles Ventura Counties (GLAVC) Project. The total cost for constructing these three veterans’ homes is approximately $300 million. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs’ contribution to construct all three Southern California veterans’ homes is about $180 million and California’s contribution is estimated at $120 million.

“These projects represent a continuing commitment from Governor Schwarzenegger to make sure that these homes were built on schedule, and that we're able to serve veterans not only now, but well into the future,” said Veterans Affairs Secretary Tom Johnson. “When Governor Schwarzenegger took office, he established the completion of these homes as his number one priority for our state's veterans.”

The Governor's 2007-08 budget includes $995,000 General Fund and 8 personnel for the initial construction and pre-activation phases of the Greater Los Angeles and Ventura Counties Project.

Before the GLAVC project, California had only 3 veterans’ homes currently serving about 1,700 veterans. With this project and two more veterans’ homes being planned in Redding and Fresno, the capacity of the states veterans’ homes system in California will more than double.

Last year’s budget included $3.8 million for the new Alzheimer’s/Dementia unit at Yountville Veterans’ Home.

Last month, the Governor’s Office and the California Department of Veteran’s Affairs secured a $5.6 million private grant to help support the Yountville Veterans’ Home “Pathway Home” program which will provide treatment and transition care for returning veterans as well as follow-up support for them and their families.

California is home to more than 2.2 million veterans, more than in any other state in the nation.

Source: California Governor