To the Chairman, the Gentle Ladies and Gentlemen of this committee. Mr. Chairman On behalf of Greene County Gatekeepers, we are very appreciative of your leadership and stewardship during this budget process, and we are very thankful for your prior support and retaining Sen. Bryce Reeves budget Amendment request for $3M for Greene County’ impoundment (reservoir), this now lays the foundation for the citizens of Greene County to have access to water during drought conditions, but it also means that our schools will have safe clean drinking water during emergency situations. Again thank you to this committee and budget confrence members.

During numerous combat tours, Veterans like myself made promises to each other that we would take care of those left behind should we fall or be wounded in combat. Unlike promises made here in this assembly, this promise actually means something and it is why I speak to you today. It is why I remind you of a promise this body made years ago when it enacted the Virginia Military Survivor and Dependents Education Program. Should this year’s proposed budget pass without amendment the Virginia Survivor and Dependents Education Program will be gutted. Surviving spouses and children of our nations fallen and wounded will largely be left out of program that was key to their decision to make Virginia home after service. It will create large economic hardship for many, and it will destroy the chances of higher education to many or our nation’s most patriotic citizens. Perhaps this is by design. Passing this budget and breaking the promises of the Virginia Survivor and Dependents Education Program will also show Veterans and future generations of Veterans that promises made by government are not to be trusted as they can and will be revoked as easily as the winds change. This body as one of the oldest governing bodies in our Nation has had the likes of George Washington once grace its presence. I can almost hear him whispering in the ears of all of you the dangers of abandoning promises to its Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Guardians, and Marines. I can almost hear him whispering to those in this body who themselves are veterans and asking why you have been so silent in supporting your fellow Veterans and their families. I can hear him whispering that party politics and agendas have taken your tongue and your actual freedom to represent your constituents and fellow Veterans. I implore you all to consider this as you vote today, and I ask you that if you pass this to personally call the spouses and children of those who have fallen or been wounded to explain why you have taken this program away from them. God Bless America and God Bless those who have actually served her.

Virginia General Assembly Betrays Gold Star & Disabled Veteran Families! Happy Mothers Day! Unless you are a Gold Star widow or spouse of a disabled veteran in Virginia! It is military appreciation month, just before Memorial day, and what better way to thank the families of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice than stripping educational benefits to their families, with NO NOTICE that have been in place for more than 25 years! Background: there has been a back and forth with the house/senate and the governor about the budget for 2024-2026. The first iteration contained language cutting the VMSDEP program. We pushed back with a petition containing 4000 signatures in 10 days and the governor offered amendments to strike the changes and push them to a study. House/senate then scrapped the version of the budget bill the governor bounced back to them so they "rewrote it". The "rewrite" which came out Saturday May 11, and is to be vote on Monday May 13, is worse than the language in the previous budget bill, and long story short, if the governor signs it, which all signs point to yes, the program is going to be shredded to pieces. Some of the changes include: -Control of VMSDEP (Virginia Military Survivor Dependent and Education Program) moves almost entirely to the State Council for Higher Education. In effect, the fox is allowed to guard the hen house. SCHEV has been crying poor as the program is a waiver program and "just too many people are using it", well, that's what happens when you spend 20 years at war. This also, with the exception of "eligibility verification" strips the program from the Department of Veterans Services. This is UNPRECEDENTED and would be the same as moving the GI bill to the Department of Education. -VMSDEP will become a "last payer"- so you fill out FAFSA and get an SAI/EFC- typically its way higher than you can actually afford but its what the government says you can afford and you are required to pay that first before this program applies. Additionally, Pell grants, state grants, scholarships, etc will be applied in full first. -It will no longer cover Grad school. It will no longer cover second degrees (effectively eliminating the usage for spouses) -FAFSA must be on file (this is an entitlement, NOT a needs based program). -Unless you have committed to a school for the summer or fall of 2024 BY MAY 15, 2024 (AGAIN ZERO NOTICE PERIOD) there is NO grandfathering option for families who have made the decision to move to or stay in Virginia due to qualifying for this program.