Veterans Services |
The 2013-2015 budget transferred General Purpose Revenue (GPR) funds to the Veterans Trust Fund (VTF), which provided more money to fund important support services, programs, and benefits for Wisconsin’s veterans. The budget also allocated additional funding to increase staffing at several veteran homes across the state.
Finally, the previous budget provided $405,000 to fund tuition reimbursement for veterans attending tribal colleges. This funding was an essential first step toward increasing the college graduation rate among American Indians and in reducing the number of American Indians living in poverty. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), only 17% of American Indians and Alaska Natives receive a bachelor’s degree and 1 in 4 live in poverty.
Finally, the previous budget provided $405,000 to fund tuition reimbursement for veterans attending tribal colleges. This funding was an essential first step toward increasing the college graduation rate among American Indians and in reducing the number of American Indians living in poverty. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), only 17% of American Indians and Alaska Natives receive a bachelor’s degree and 1 in 4 live in poverty.
The proposed budget reduces funding for the Veteran’s Education Grant program to reflect reduced demand for the program. The program pays up to 100% of the cost of undergraduate tuition and fees, high school tuition, or technical school tuition to veteran students who are not otherwise eligible for University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Technical College System tuition remission programs. Total funding for the program will be approximately $2.05 million over the biennium. In 2013-14, the program provided reimbursement grants totaling $456,000 to 114 veterans.
The proposed budget also expands the eligibility criteria for the Assistance for Needy Veterans program by eliminating the state residency requirement from the program. The program provides subsistence payments and health care assistance to veterans who meet certain income and asset criteria, as well as to unremarried spouses and dependent children of veterans who died while on active duty. Under current law, veterans must be Wisconsin residents at the time of application for them or their spouse to be eligible.
The proposed budget also expands the eligibility criteria for the Assistance for Needy Veterans program by eliminating the state residency requirement from the program. The program provides subsistence payments and health care assistance to veterans who meet certain income and asset criteria, as well as to unremarried spouses and dependent children of veterans who died while on active duty. Under current law, veterans must be Wisconsin residents at the time of application for them or their spouse to be eligible.
Governor Walker's Budget as Amended by the Joint Committee on Finance
The Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) made a couple of significant changes to the Governor's proposed Veteran Services budget. First, the JFC eliminated the Tribal College Tuition Reimbursement Program that was created in the previous 2015-2017 budget (mentioned above). The Legislative Fiscal Bureau stated that no grants were ever awarded under the program and the Department of Veterans Affairs indicated that there have no eligible applicants have applied for a grant under the program. The JFC also rejected the Governor's proposal to expand the eligibility criteria for the Assistance for Needy Veterans Program.
Final 2015-2017 Veterans Services Budget
The Legislature approved the Governor's proposed Veterans Services budget as amended by the Joint Committee on Finance.
As of September 30, 2014, there were 33,629 women veterans in Wisconsin.
On the whole, the proposed veterans services budget does not appear to have a large impact on the well-being of women and girls. The expanded eligibility for the Assistance to Needy Veterans will have likely provided increased assistance to some women and girls in the form of subsistence payments and health care assistance, but that provision was removed. Additionally, the under-utilization of the Tribal College Reimbursement Program and elimination of that appropriation is disappointing given the dire post-secondary education and poverty statistics for American Indians.
On the whole, the proposed veterans services budget does not appear to have a large impact on the well-being of women and girls. The expanded eligibility for the Assistance to Needy Veterans will have likely provided increased assistance to some women and girls in the form of subsistence payments and health care assistance, but that provision was removed. Additionally, the under-utilization of the Tribal College Reimbursement Program and elimination of that appropriation is disappointing given the dire post-secondary education and poverty statistics for American Indians.
Resources
For more information about veterans in Wisconsin, visit these resources:
