Veterans to Hochul: Expand N.Y. military scholarship to all servicemembers

New York veterans and lawmakers want Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a bill to allow any person who served in the military to apply for the state's scholarship for veterans as the governor's office questions the fiscal impact of the expansion.

Sponsor Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said the state's veteran tuition award program must include all vets — and people who avoided combat often don't identify their service.

"We want them to come out and be proud of their service," she said Monday. "You're no less patriotic because perhaps you didn't serve in war." 

Hochul's staff is in talks with the senator's team about how much the expansion would cost. The governor's office requested more information about the legislation within the last month.

Scarcella-Spanton, who chairs the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee, said the extra cost is difficult to estimate, especially because most veterans do not know about the award.

"I imagine it will be a really small percentage, but it would be really impactful for that small percentage," the senator said. "So I don't see any reason why they would come out against it."

About 0.6% of combat veterans in the state currently apply for the benefit, Scarcella-Spanton added.

"We've been talkig with the governor's team, [and] I know they want to do the right thing on behalf of veterans and military families," she said.

Scarcella-Spanton said the Legislature will prioritize legislation next session to require the state Labor Department to maintain a registry of available careers or job openings for veterans statewide. Often, companies or businesses have specific incentives for the military and their families after they leave the service, but many remain unaware of those opportunities.

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