Assemblyman Brian Manktelow (R,C,I,Ref-Lyons) applauds Gov. Cuomo for his remarks and support today of a bipartisan bill (A.2991) to provide free tuition and room and board to SUNY and CUNY schools for surviving dependents of military personal who have died in the line of duty. Earlier this week this bill was held in the Higher Education Committee by the Assembly Majority, being called too “costly” and an “entitlement” by Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, chairwoman of the committee. Today, the governor has stated that he would support providing funds for college to dependents of military personal who have died while serving their country.

“It isn’t fair to provide millions of dollars to help one group of people achieve the college dream, yet not provide a few hundred thousand for others to experience that same dream,” said Manktelow. “This bill has received bipartisan support and won’t cost nearly as much as the recently passed DREAM Act, so I see no reason for it to be held in committee. Some of my colleagues across the aisle have accused the Assembly Minority of using this bill and our service members for our own personal gain, which I find to be utterly appalling and disgraceful accusations. The only gain here would be to the dependents who would receive financial support to go to college, something they might not have the chance to do since the person they were dependent on is no longer there to support them. I’m hopeful that with the governor’s support, and all of the other support this bill has receive thus far, we can pull it out of committee and bring it to the floor for a vote before the end of this Legislative Session.”