A SENATE bill proposing to waive Northern Marianas College tuition for veterans with service-connected disability now goes to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.
House amendments to Senate Bill 22-18 in the form of Senate Draft 1 were unanimously accepted by the full Senate body on Thursday.
Authored by Sen. Francisco Q. Cruz, the legislation acknowledges the sacrifices made by veterans on battlefields, on the sea and air, and every other place where their contributions have allowed people to live free.
“They deserve the recognition and appreciation, and they should be accorded benefits for their sacrifices,” the bill reads.
It notes that numerous states provide several benefits for veterans, including tax exemptions, vehicle registration fee waivers, free license plates, and reduced annual fishing and hunting licenses.
“The Legislature finds that active military veterans, reserve military called to active duty have served their country and have risked their lives to defend the lives of all Americans and the freedoms that define and distinguish our nation. The Legislature intends to honor active military veterans who have served on active military for the public service they have provided to our mother country. The Legislature finds that the Commonwealth should extend certain benefits to veterans who have served our country and have returned home. Some of these veterans may plan to pursue a change in career that may require postsecondary education that leads to a college degree,” the bill reads.
Veterans eligible for these benefits are CNMI residents who were active members of the U.S. military, served in active federal service under either Title 10 or Title 32 of the U.S. Code; in a war or conflict fought on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or in international waters; and, if discharged from service, has received an honorable discharge and certified to have at least 30% disability as a result of serving in active military service.
Francisco Q. Cruz
