Proposed PA GI Bill Would Offer Education Benefits For Members’ Spouses, Children

The proposed PA GI Bill would offer members of the Pennsylvania National Guard college benefits for their spouse and children.

The bill, formally known as the Military Family Education Program, was outlined by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County on Wednesday.

The proposal would offer an education benefit to families of Pennsylvania National Guard members and existing service members who complete their initial military term and sign up for six years of service to the state military. The program would offer 10 semesters of tuition-free education for family members. The education benefit would have to be used at a Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency-approved institution, and tuition would be set by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, Wolf’s office said.

The benefit would be similar to the one laid out in the federal GI Bill that is offered to active military personnel.

“With the PA GI Bill, Pennsylvania can lead the way on a program I think we can all agree provides fitting support for our servicemembers and their families who endure great hardships through multiple overseas deployments, training exercises, and domestic emergencies in and outside of the commonwealth,” Wolf said.

The legislation will be sponsored by State Sen. Mike Regan, a Republican; State Sen. Lindsey Williams, a Democrat; State Rep. Stephen Barrar, a Republican; and State Rep. Chris Sainato, a Democrat.

“In order for us to maintain a strong National Guard over the next several decades, it is important that we retain these citizen soldiers beyond their first enlistment,” said Regan. “The Military Family Education Program will help in this cause.”

Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard are currently eligible for an education assistance program with a service obligation of six years, but those credits are more limited.

The cost of the program was not laid out by officials.

The Pennsylvania National Guard is made up of an army and air component. It is the third largest in the country with more than 20,000 soldiers and airmen who come from every county in the state.

Under the U.S. Constitution, the governor controls the national guard, which can be called up to service federal duty by the president.