House Passage of HB 6003

Governor Glenn Youngkin released the following statement after the House of Delegates passed HB 6003, a clean, full, repeal of the eligibility changes recently made to the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP):

“Thank you to Speaker Scott, Leader Gilbert, Chairman Torian, Delegate Cherry and the entire House of Delegates for unanimously passing a full, clean repeal and reversal of the eligibility changes to VMSDEP,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Our veterans, first responders, and their families have spoken, and we have heard them. Now it is time for the Senate to pass the bill on Monday, so I can sign it immediately. We must ensure that any potential changes to the program occur transparently in a regular legislative session with input from our valued veterans and their families. On February 12, 2024, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee voted unanimously to study VMSDEP before making any changes to it, and on February 13, 2024, the full Senate voted unanimously to pass that bill. Sending HB 6003 to my desk will have the same effect. Between the Preserving VMSDEP Task Force, which includes veterans, military families, senior legislators, administration officials, and higher education leaders, and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee Working Group, we have all the right people at the table to continue our work to keep this program sustainable for the future. If the Senate Democrat Leadership does not support a repeal of the language, they are holding our veterans, first responders, and their families, hostage. It is time to do the right thing.”