December 07, 2017

Rep. Correa Introduces Bipartisan Legislation To Improve Education For The Children Of National Guard & Reserve Servicemembers

Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Lou Correa (CA-46) and Mike Coffman (CO-6) introduced the bipartisan and bicameral “Supporting Children of the National Guard and Reserve Act.”

This bill ensures that children of the National Guard and Reserve Servicemembers have the best chance to succeed in the classroom. These students confront unique challenges, and this bill will help empower educators to respond to the difficulties military-connected students face at school.

Rep. Lou Correa said, “Since the start of the Global War On Terror, the National Guard and Reservists have made the same deployments as their active duty counterparts. They’ve been our boots on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, but administratively they have been treated as second-class soldiers.

Earlier this year we began righting that wrong by giving them access to the GI Bill. Today, we go a step further and help their children get a better education. Every soldier who serves our country, regardless of branch or service, deserves respect and the thanks of their a grateful nation.”

Rep. Coffman said, “Growing up in a military family, I fully understand the unique challenges that these children face. Providing these students the necessary support to ensure they receive the best possible education, while their father or mother are away serving our country, is the right thing to do.”

This bill expands the military student identifier (MSI) provision of the “Every Student Succeeds Act” to include children of the National Guard and Reserve Servicemembers. Currently, the MSI only applies to children of active-duty servicemembers, leaving the unique challenges faced by the children of National Guard members and Reservists unrecorded. By including these students, educators, parents, and policymakers will be better able to help them succeed.

Senators Klobuchar (D-MN) and Collins (R-ME) introduced identical legislation (S.969) in the Senate.