Governor Kaine Signs Legislation Granting In-State Tuition to Military Families

Governor Kaine Signs Legislation Granting In-State Tuition to Military Families

- Signs bills establishing family support fund, "Support Our Troops" License Plate -

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today ceremonially signed several General Assembly bills providing support and assistance to families of military men and women, demonstrating Virginia's bipartisan support for active duty military, National Guard, and Reserve families.

The legislation signed today includes measures that provide in-state college tuition rates for children of military personnel stationed in Virginia, create a Virginia Military Family Relief Fund, authorizes a "Support Our Troops" Virginia license plate, and shift administrative responsibility for the Virginia Department of Veterans Services from the Secretary of Administration to the Secretary of Public Safety.

"Virginia is honored to be the home of 122,000 active-duty military personnel, and almost three-quarters of a million veterans and their families," Governor Kaine said. "These are our family, friends, neighbors, customers, and co-workers. We salute their service, and look for opportunities like today to thank them for their service -- and to tangibly demonstrate that we are sensitive to the challenges that their military service can present for their families."

The Governor was joined at today's ceremonial bill-signing by several active-duty, Guard and Reserve personnel and their families, the bipartisan General Assembly sponsors of the legislation, and by U.S. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Leslye Arsht.

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http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/2006/Jun06/0619.cfm