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News
from Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
For Immediate Release
Contact: Chip Weiskotten, 202-226-8553
Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449
HERSETH
SANDLIN BILL WOULD INCREASE FUNDING FOR VETERANS’ SERVICE PROGRAMS
Champions
Legislation to Ensure Access to Educational and Training Programs for
Veterans Following their Service
September
18, 2007, Washington, D.C. –
U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin this week introduced legislation
to help ensure access to important education and workforce training
programs for United States veterans once they complete their military
service.
Rep. Herseth Sandlin’s
bill, H.R. 3553, would head off an expected cut in funding for State
Approving Agencies, or SAAs, which oversee and promote veterans education
and training programs. In addition to ensuring that these worthwhile
and effective programs don’t receive a devastating cut, Rep. Herseth
Sandlin’s bill would raise funding for SAAs nationwide from $19
million to $25 million beginning in FY 2008. Without this legislation,
this critical funding for our nation’s veterans is scheduled to
drop to $13 million, which will result in a decrease in the quality
of education and training programs available to returning servicemembers
following their service to our nation in the Armed Forces.
Rep. Herseth Sandlin,
who chairs the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity, said, “Keeping our promises to those who sacrifice
for our country means providing the best opportunities to prosper in
civilian life after returning home. State Approving Agencies are essential
in ensuring that the best veterans’ benefits programs remain operational
and effective. We owe it to these American heroes.”
South Dakota’s
State Approving Agency is part of the South Dakota Division of Veterans
Affairs in Pierre. Our SAA provides support, oversight and assistance
to 47 schools and 192 training establishments and businesses in the
state. If the funding reduction takes place, funding for South Dakota
will drop from $207,000 in FY 2007 to $140,760 in FY 2008 – a
cut of more than $66,000. However, if Rep. Herseth Sandlin’s bill
passes, South Dakota would receive about $270,000 in FY 2008 –
an increase of about $63,000.
The primary function
of the State Approving Agency is to review, evaluate and approve quality
educational and training programs for veterans’ benefits. Programs
that can be approved include institutions of higher learning (colleges
and universities), non-degree institutions (vocational and technical
schools), apprenticeship programs, other on-the-job training programs
and flight schools.
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Congresswoman
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives.
She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats
committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is
co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the
profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three
committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’
Affairs and Natural Resources. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Herseth Sandlin
was one of only 15 members appointed to serve on the Select Committee
on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
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