The cost of a public education in Maine has become unaffordable. Our veterans, especially low-income, working veterans, struggle with the cost of college. This bill would work to combat this by targeting members of the Maine National Guard for full tuition waivers at all public higher education systems in the state. This is a step in the right direction, and a measure likely to help more Maine National Guard members graduate with a certificate or degree, and earn the attendant wage premium.
Senator Cyrway, Representative Luchini, honorable members of the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs, I am Christy Daggett from the Maine Center for Economic Policy. I am testifying neither for nor against of LD 1343.
MECEP fully supports the intent of this bill; however, we are concerned that it is an unfunded mandate for postsecondary education institutions. Members of Maine’s National Guard should have access to tuition waivers, and they should be paid for by all taxpayers in Maine through the general fund.
The cost of a public education in Maine has become unaffordable. Our veterans, especially low-income, working veterans, struggle with the cost of college. This bill would work to combat this by targeting members of the Maine National Guard for full tuition waivers at all public higher education systems in the state. This is a step in the right direction, and a measure likely to help more Maine National Guard members graduate with a certificate or degree, and earn the attendant wage premium.
Today, thanks in part to help from the Post 9/11 GI Bill, more U.S. veterans are pursuing higher education, including approximately 3,000 Maine veterans (up from 2,000 in 2009).[i] In the U.S. as a whole, veterans are more likely than the general population to have a high school diploma[ii] (required for military service) and to have earned some college credit or a two-year degree.[iii] But veterans in Maine are less likely to have a four-year college degree than nonveterans, despite successful implementation of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. In one study, only 10 percent of Maine Army National Guard Iraq veterans had completed a four-year degree.[iv]
Tuition cost is one barrier to members of the Maine National Guard. The Post 9-11 GI Bill has a reputation for offering a strong educational benefit, but there are gaps in its scope, and members of the National Guard and Reserve are particularly likely to receive less toward their college education, because they may not be able to qualify for the full tuition benefit that is contingent upon three years of active duty service.
This loophole is doubly unfortunate because the past two conflicts have drawn heavily on the National Guard and Reserve. Many Maine units have been deployed several times, and overall the state of Maine experienced the nation’s highest troop mortality rate per 100,000 in Afghanistan[v]. This bill would recognize the service and sacrifice of our active duty reservists by offering this tuition benefit to “fill in” any gap in the G.I. Bill – bringing Maine into line with the level of benefit to National Guard members offered by Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.
The average age of Army National Guard enlisted members is just under 30, and the average age of Army National Guard Officers is 38[vi]. For the Air National Guard, the average enlisted member is 34, and the average Air National Guard Officer is almost 41[vii]. This proposal is particularly responsive to the known needs of adult students, who often work full-time, or are parents, and often require more flexible class schedules and more time to complete their degrees in order to accommodate the priorities they must juggle. This proposal extends to part-time students as well as full-time students, and allows beneficiaries to extend their coursework over five years, adding more time to compensate for mobilization or deployment, if necessary. It also encompasses certificate programs, in addition to traditional degree programs.
As indicated in my opening remarks, MECEP supports this bill except for how it is funded. As the bill is currently written, the costs of the veterans’ tuition assistance would be passed to the university and community college system, in effect, an unfunded mandate on those systems. To force the public education systems to absorb the program costs will shift the costs on to students and perhaps increase already-too-high tuition costs. MECEP recommends amending the bill to ensure that it is funded through general state appropriations meaning all taxpayers contribute to its cost.
Based on MECEP’s research, Maine has been a leader in honoring veterans. This proposal takes us further down that path. We should embrace this opportunity and pay for it fairly and equitably.
Thank you for your consideration. I am happy to answer
[i] Robinson, David. Morning Sentinel. “Post 9/11 GI Bill doubles Maine veterans who benefit,” January 2, 2012.
[ii] U.S. Census Bureau. How Do We Know. “A Snapshot of our Nation’s Veterans,” undated. Available at: https://www.census.gov/how/pdf/census_veterans.pdf
[iii] National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. Educational Attainment of Veterans: 2000 to 2009, January 2011.
[iv] Wheeler, Elizabeth. Self-reported mental health status and needs of Iraq veterans in the Maine Army National Guard. Community Counseling Center, undated. Available at http://www.ptsd.ne.gov/publications/MENG-veterans-study-full-report.pdf.
[v] Jordan, Glenn. Portland Press Herald. “Maine has highest state rate of casualties in Afghanistan.” June 8, 2011. Available at http://www.pressherald.com/2011/06/28/paying-a-deadly-price-_2011-06-28/
[vi] National Healthy Marriage Resource Center. “Facilitator tip sheet: working with the National Guard: Fast facts about the National Guard.” Undated.
[vii] Ibid.
