Kuster Discusses Importance of Supporting Access to Higher Ed for Vets

CONCORD, NH - U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, D-NH, brought together student veterans and higher education administrators from across New Hampshire to discuss the importance of supporting veterans as they pursue higher education following the completion of their service on Thursday.

This discussion allowed Kuster to learn more about the work being done by New Hampshire colleges to implement education benefits, as well as to hear directly from student veterans about how she can best support them through her work in Congress, according to a press statement.

“When our brave men and women return from their service in the Armed Forces, we must ensure that they have access to the tools they need to complete their education and to compete in today’s workforce,” said Kuster. “During today’s conversation, we were able to bring together student veterans and representatives from some of the Granite State’s top institutions of higher education to discuss how we can help returning veterans pursue their college education here in New Hampshire. We are lucky to have such a dedicated group of higher education leaders here in the Granite State who have done an incredible job supporting veterans seeking college degrees. Today was a great opportunity to hear some of their best practices, and I look forward to taking what I heard today with me back to Congress, where I will continue to advocate for our nation’s veterans as a leader on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.”

Kuster was joined for this discussion by student veterans and leadership from New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI), the University of New Hampshire, Southern New Hampshire University, and Granite State College, among others. During the conversation, Kuster heard about the programs offered on campuses to support student veterans the academic success of student veterans, and she learned about the steps schools are taking to ensure student veterans full access to the benefits granted to these veterans through the G.I. Bill. Kuster also heard from student veterans about their own experiences transitioning from service members to college attendees. Kuster highlighted her work in Congress to support student veterans, including her support for H.R. 456, the Reducing Barriers for Veterans Education Act, which allows for G.I. bill funds to be utilized by veterans for college application related materials.

As a member of the U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Kuster has long worked to ensure that veterans have access to the resources necessary to support their transition back into civilian life and to pursue higher education after completing their service. Kuster has supported legislation for student veterans throughout her time in office, including the GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act of 2013, which proposed allowing veterans to pay in-state tuition for out-of-state schools. This legislation passed the House of Representatives, and its provisions were later passed into law as part of another bill.

Since taking office, Kuster has held a series of roundtables throughout the state with leaders in higher education and representatives from veteran service organizations to hear directly from them about how Congress can best serve their needs and the needs of our veterans.

Caption: Rep. Kuster talks with student veterans and higher education administrators today in Concord.