For years, Pennsylvania has provided a small educational gratuity to the children of military servicemembers who were killed or disabled while serving our nation in combat. However, after nearly 40 years without an increase and with the cost of higher education continuing to rise, this assistance is no longer enough.
 
We are proposing to strengthen this benefit by tripling the educational gratuity to $1,500 per semester and covering gaps in eligibility for federal or state tuition assistance. Eligible children will include those of military servicemembers who were killed-in-action or died subsequently from their injuries in the line-of-service, declared missing-in-action, taken prisoner-of-war, awarded the Medal of Honor or Purple Heart, or certified as 100% disabled due to combat.
 
This proposal would ease the financial burden on military families, expand access to education, and help more students build their futures in the Commonwealth. It would also recognize the extraordinary service and sacrifice of these military servicemembers and their families.
 
Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation to expand educational opportunities for the children of those who have sacrificed so much in service to our nation.