NEW JERSEY 20th Legislative District
	Senator RAYMOND LESNIAK	Assemblyman JOSEPH CRYAN	Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
For Release: Immediate December 7, 2011		Contact: Press office (609) 292-7065

GREENWALD, PRIETO & QUIJANO BILL TO HELP VETERANS PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION GETS FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL, HEADS TO GOVERNOR'S DESK

(TRENTON) - Legislation sponsored by Assembly members Louis D. Greenwald, Vincent Prieto and Annette Quijano that would provide veterans who want to further their education with better access to educational information has received final legislative approval.

"After completing their military service, many veterans want to further their education by attending college," said Greenwald (D-Camden). "But to ensure veterans are aware of the educational options and benefits offered to them, it's imperative that information is easily accessible through a link on every public institution of higher education's Web site."

The bill (A-1677) requires a public institution of higher education to include on its website a link to information on federal and state educational benefits available to veterans. The link must be placed in a prominent location on the website, and its content must be in accordance with the guidelines of the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education.

The bill also requires the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to link its website to the directory of public and private colleges and universities, located on the website of the state Commission on Higher Education. The link must be placed on the page in the department's website that lists the education benefits available to veterans.

"Military life is not easy. Veterans have endured their share of challenges; finding the proper resources to help them further their education should not be one of them," said Quijano (D-Union). "This measure ensures the brave men and women who serve our country are provided educational information in the most convenient manner to assist them in pursing an education."

"Finding the college or university that best meets your academic needs and budget can take quite a bit of research, and sometimes feel overwhelming," said Prieto (D-Bergen/Hudson). "We owe it to our veterans to make the process as simple as possible so they can take advantage of the educational resources available to them, as they embark on this new chapter in their lives."

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