Mullin Bill Restores Tuition Assistance

Mullin Co-Sponsors Bill to Restore Military Tuition Assistance Program by Cutting Foreign Aid to Egypt

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MUSKOGEE – March 15th 2013 – Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-2) announced today he has co-sponsored a bill cutting foreign aid to Egypt to offset the cost of funding the promises our country made to members of America’s military.

The $500 million cut in foreign aid will offset the tuition assistance program that was suspended recently by the Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and the Air Force due to sequestration and a tightened military budget.

“Our American soldiers were promised this money,” said Mullin. “These soldiers and Marines have done what their country asked of them in exchange for this tuition assistance. Now we, as a country, must do what we promised them.”

H.R. 1039 was authored by U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8). The tuition assistance program was available for active-duty members, reservists and National Guard members attending high school completion courses, vocational education or classes toward college degree program after hours. The program provided up to $4,500 per fiscal year, or $250 per semester/credit hour.

“I was raised to believe you cannot buy your friends,” Mullin said. “But a good education for our service members is something we should be investing in. Tuition assistance will also help the soldiers to find employment when they return to the civilian world.”

“This country needs to learn to live like hard-working Oklahomans – within a budget. That means re-evaluating spending priorities,” Mullin said. “I believe promises made to our soldiers take precedent over foreign aid to Egypt.”

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Contact: Tim Ross 202-664-4773, tim.ross@mail.house.gov
or Angie Gallant 918-351-8700, angie.gallant@mail.house.gov