State Rep. Derek Stanford says that a bill that the House of Representatives passed Monday would make college more affordable for active duty service members.
Stanford is the prime sponsor of House Bill 1706, written to allow universities and community and technical colleges to waive building fees and activity fees for military service members receiving tuition assistance from the U.S. Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program. The Defense Department program helps service members pay for tuition, but a recent change means that the program no longer covers certain fees.
Stanford said Monday that fees like building fees to use a college gym, library or computer lab can be a significant financial burden on service members. Stanford’s bill would allow higher education institutions to waive these fees.
“This is about making sure our service members don’t fall through the cracks,” Stanford said. “We can give more flexibility to our colleges and universities to pick up the slack where the federal program falls short.”
Stanford represents the 1st Legislative District, including most of Mountlake Terrace, all of Brier and Bothell, unincorporated areas of Snohomish County north and east of Bothell, north Kirkland, and unincorporated areas of King County between Bothell and Kirkland.
HB 1706 now goes to the senate for consideration.
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
