House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert issued the following statement:
“Today’s inaction by the Senate regarding the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program is shameful and inexcusable. Senate Democrats had a bill available that was backed by a bipartisan majority. It would have cleanly repealed the changes made to the program that threaten to cut off education benefits to not only Gold Star families and combat disabled veterans, but also the families of fallen first responders.
“The fix was there. It likely would have passed and started a process of reform to ensure the program is sustainable for the foreseeable future. But Senate Democrats refused to hear the bill, apparently choosing to tie it to the unrelated issue of so-called ‘skill games’ in an effort to force that legislation through.
“A bipartisan majority in the House of Delegates is ready to act on June 28th to fix this error. The families of Virginia’s heroes who have given their last full measure of devotion to our country and Commonwealth deserve no less. House Republicans stand firmly with them.”
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