(TRENTON) — Assemblyman Robert Andrzejczak (D-Cape May) issued a multimedia package Thursday on his legislation to allow military veterans living in New Jersey to receive in-state tuition rates at state colleges and universities, regardless of their residency status.
Andrzejczak’s bill (A-2622), entitled the “New Jersey Tuition Equality for America’s Military (NJTEAM) Act” would allow any honorably discharged military veteran living in New Jersey to be considered a state resident for the purposes of paying in-state tuition at any of the state’s public two- and four-year colleges or universities.
The multimedia package consists of a video of the Andrzejczak discussing the legislation and audio and a transcript of same.
The video can be accessed directly via our website — www.assemblydems.com — or by clicking here.
The audio file is available upon request.
A transcript of comments from the sponsors is appended below:
Assemblyman Robert Andrzejczak (D-Cape May), Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee Member:
“The New Jersey TEAM Act is very important for New Jersey, especially the veterans in New Jersey.
“Upon leaving the military, most of the time military members end up staying in their last duty station, or at least in the area. So, for our members to get out of the military and to stay in New Jersey and to utilize their GI Bill, what the TEAM Act would do is allow our veterans to basically waive the time in state to be able to become New Jersey residents and receive the in-state tuition.
“Post-service education is extremely important for veterans. A lot of the time, a lot of the military members will serve their country for education benefits. So they do their part by serving their country and then when they get out, they have the intention of going back to college immediately.
“So, with that, it would keep young veterans here in New Jersey, which is good for us: it builds up the economy; it’s also good for our schools. So it’s beneficial all the way around, for the economy, the schools and the local community.”
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Andrzejczak himself is a veteran. He served in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of Sergeant before being wounded during a 2008 deployment in Iraq. His convoy was hit by an anti-tank grenade, injuring Andrzejczak and resulting in the loss of his left leg.