[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 6, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       MILITARY IN-STATE TUITION

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                            HON. DAVID SCOTT

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 6, 2003

  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Military 
In-State Tuition Act of 2003.
  Currently, there is a patchwork of state laws regarding residency 
requirements for in-state tuition rates for military personnel and 
their families. When service members are given transfer orders that 
relocate them to a different state, college students in the family must 
often face tough choices regarding tuition costs at the college or 
university in their home state.
  There are three residency requirement issues that have been 
identified by military leaders in my state. First, it is difficult for 
some families to maintain their eligibility for in-state tuition within 
their state of legal residence, if they have been assigned outside of 
that state. For example, a military family may be stationed in another 
country or state while maintaining residency in the member's home 
state. Upon return to their state of residence, they find they are not 
eligible for in-state tuition. My legislation would ensure that 
soldiers and their families are always eligible for in-state tuition 
rates in their state of legal residence.
  Second, some dependents of military personnel have trouble 
maintaining in-state tuition at their current college or university, if 
their sponsoring active-duty parent is transferred out of state. My 
legislation would address this concern by ensuring that students 
receive in-state tuition even if the military parent or guardian is 
reassigned out of state.
  Last, most active duty military members who are transferred out of 
state while enrolled in a state college or university do not qualify 
for in-state tuition in their new state of assignment until a lengthy 
residency requirement is met. My legislation would ensure that 
soldiers, who have been reassigned due to military orders, and their 
families are eligible immediately for in-state tuition.
  Given the sacrifices that active-duty military personnel make for our 
country, I believe that it is only fair that if they and their families 
enroll at state colleges and universities, they should qualify for in-
state tuition. These active duty members should not be penalized by 
having to pay higher tuition rates when they are reassigned to another 
military facility in a different state.
  I hope my colleagues will join me by supporting and cosponsoring this 
legislation.

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