Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) to reintroduce legislation to establish a permanent federal tuition assistance program benefitting Air National Guard members. The Air Guard Standardizing Tuition Assistance to Unify the Services (STATUS) Act would provide tuition assistance to drill-status members of the Air National Guard, consistent with the program available to the Army National Guard.
“Colorado is home to over 1,500 Air National Guardsmen whose dedication and sacrifice helps keep our state and country safe,” said Bennet. “Our bipartisan bill will help attract, develop, and retain members of the Air National Guard and ensure servicemembers nationwide have the educational benefits they deserve.”
“Our Air Guard members deserve to receive the same benefits as their counterparts, both in the reserve and active duty components of the military,” said Hoeven. “Our legislation makes the Air Guard FTA pilot program that we first worked to establish in 2020 permanent and available to drill-status Guard members across the country. Doing so will ensure the Air Guard, like the Happy Hooligans in Fargo, can continue to recruit the best and brightest members to support the increasingly high-tech missions they take on in defense of our nation.”
“Ensuring that the brave women and men serving in the Air National Guard have access to educational opportunities will not only help our recruitment and retention, but will also enhance our overall military preparedness and provide service members the benefits they deserve,” said Shaheen. “Passing our bipartisan legislation will make tuition more affordable for the Air National Guard and bring their educational benefits in line with the other service branches. Let’s get this done.”
“The men and women in the Air National Guard work alongside their active-duty counterparts to protect our nation and serve our communities,” said Moran. “Providing the same educational benefits to the Air National Guard that the Army National Guard receives will help increase recruitment rates and make certain our servicemembers have access to the benefits they deserve.”
The legislation is supported by the National Guard Association of the United States.
The text of the bill is available HERE.