NEWS

New Jersey Newsroom: Corzine signs legislation creating ‘Troops to College' program
September 14, 2009


Gov. Jon Corzine has signed legislation to help New Jersey's military veterans, including those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, that establishes a "Troops to College" program.

The legislation is designed to assist veterans attempting to make a transition from the military into the college classroom.

"New Jersey's veterans carry on a long tradition of those who have answered their nation's call to action," Corzine said as he signed the measure in Edison. "The bills I am signing today represent a small down payment on the tremendous debt we owe to our military members – past and present – for defending our nation and our way of life. I believe that the service we provide to our veterans and our soldiers is a duty we cannot ignore and I remain committed to providing all the support we can to our military personnel."

The "Troops to College" program will provide an array of services to veterans seeking to enhance their education. The initiative includes assistance in applying for state and federal student financial aid, counseling resources, a single point of contact for information on an institution's benefits and programs for veterans as well as an online resource to consolidate information for veterans. The program will be created within the state Commission on Higher Education.

"The goal of the Troops to College program is to provide resources and information to veterans looking to further their education,'' said Sen. Fred Madden (D-Camden).  We want our men and women in uniform to know that we support them one hundred percent. For many New Jerseyans in the military, it has been quite a few years since they graduated from high school, and through this program we can educate them20about available financial aid, campus veterans' assistance and other resources designed to help them earn their degrees."

"Our veterans deserve the best, and that includes access to higher education," said Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan (D-Middlesex). "This plan would make that transition easier and is the right thing to do for those who have sacrificed their time and energy to defend our nation."

"The help we're proposing here includes assistance in applying for tuition aid, counseling resources and a campus veterans' assistance officer to provide a single point of contact for information on the institution's benefits and programs for veterans," said Assemblyman Peter J. Barnes III (D-Middlesex). "This is all basic information that we can offer to our veterans and make their transition easier."

Corzine signed two additional pieces of legislation that that honor the memory of armed service veterans, renaming two bridge spans in the State. One bill designates the bridge carrying Route 109 over Cape May Canal as "Cape May County Veterans Memorial Bridge" to honor past and present residents of Cape May who have served in the military.

The second bill designates the bridge carrying Route 9 over Throckmorton Street in Freehold Township as "Corporal Philip A. Reynolds Memorial Bridge," to honor the Freehold Borough resident who was killed in action and posthumously awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.

–TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM