Rep. César J. Blanco

Guest columnist

Life after the military can be a challenge for members of our armed forces and their families.

The Texas Legislature has long recognized the critical role that access to higher education can play in transitioning to civilian life. In 1923 it exempted honorably discharged World War I veterans from paying certain tuitions and fees at public universities.

This support was extended by the passage of the Hazlewood Act in 1943, and has since expanded to acknowledge the sacrifices that military families make in support of their service member.

The Hazlewood Act exempts Texas veterans, and in some cases qualified spouses or dependents, from up to 150 credit hours of tuition and fees at any of the state’s public institutions of higher education.

Under the Hazlewood Legacy Program, veterans can pass on this benefit to a qualified child. This legislation has helped generations of veterans and their families to attend college and achieve a better life.

Unfortunately, this benefit offered to veterans, particularly the Legacy Program, has come under fire in recent years.

Last session, lawmakers attempted to restrict eligibility requirements for legacy recipients, severely limiting the number of military family members.

These same lawmakers also tried to limit coverage to undergraduate studies only.

In addition to restricting benefits to the families, lawmakers also proposed reducing the number of credit hours that veterans can pass along for their children’s use from 120 hours to just 60.

An even more disgraceful proposal would require that eligible veterans must have spent six years on active duty as opposed to being on active duty service for 181 days.

A Rice University study showed that less than a third of veterans serve for longer than six years on active duty. A veteran disabled in combat before completing six years of active duty service would not be eligible.

I am certain that the proposed changes to the law would do more harm than good.

That’s why I am urging you to help me fight against these shameful measures that some of our legislative colleagues are trying to impose.

The Legislature left $2 billion on the table and $11 billion in savings last budget. We can afford to take care of our veterans and their families.

It shouldn’t be too much to ask to guarantee that the sons and daughters of those who served can pursue their dreams of a better life in their parent’s honor.

It’s up to us, the members of the state Legislature, to fully fund the Hazlewood Act, and it is imperative that we do so to keep the promises that we have made to our veterans and their families.

On Jan. 28, we launched the first stop in a statewide Veterans Town Hall Tour in San Antonio. I look forward to hearing from our veterans and completing the tour with a final stop in El Paso.

El Paso is home to over 47,000 veterans, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. UTEP has 919 Hazlewood recipients enrolled, El Paso Community College has 646, and Texas Tech Health Sciences Center has 153.

Veterans have sacrificed so much for our families. Help me fight for our veterans and their families’ access to a college education and to a brighter future.

César J. Blanco of El Paso represents Texas House District 76. He is a U.S. Navy veteran, a member of the American GI Forum, and American Legion. He serves on the Defense and Veterans Affairs, Public Health and Rules and Resolutions committees. He is also chair of the House Border Caucus.