U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, announced that the committee’s comprehensive Veterans First Act includes a provision based on his Military Spouses Achieving College Education for Survivors (ACES) Act of 2016 -legislation to ensure that surviving spouses of servicemembers who died in the line of duty after September 11, 2001 have enough time to use educational benefits to train for jobs that allow them to support their families.

“When Congress extended the fry scholarship to surviving spouses, it was meant to honor the sacrifice these women and men have made and to ensure a bright future through education and training,” said Brown.

“We must rectify the error that leaves some of the spouses unable to complete a four-year degree before their benefits expire. passage of this critical legislation will help keep spouses like melissa from being unfairly deprived of the educational benefits they deserve.”

Melissa Twine, an Air Force veteran from Batavia whose husband, Captain Philip B. Twine, died serving in the Air Force, has joined Brown in calling for this important legislation:

My husband, Captain Philip B. Twine, was a logistics officer in the air force when he died at the age of 34 in 2002. We had three children and I was eight months pregnant with our fourth child when Phil died. After my husband’s death, I became the primary breadwinner (a single parent of four), including being the caregiver for our child with autism spectrum disability. Prior to Philip’s death, I completed my undergrad in biology at the University of Cincinnati. Our plan was that I would obtain my master’s degree next. Those plans changed when our world changed on august 7, 2002. I had to put this goal on pause for many years while I raised my family as a single parent. It was especially difficult with a newborn and a child with a disability. I am now in a place where fulfilling my goal of higher education is possible. I would be very grateful for the opportunity to be able to use the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship but I need the time necessary to be able to use the benefit. Please consider affording this opportunity to me and to others like me. There aren’t many of us, but it could make all of the difference in the world.

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to the surviving spouses and children of servicemembers who have died in the line of duty while on active duty after September 10, 2001. However, when Congress expanded Fry Scholarship eligibility to spouses in the _Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, a 15 year limitation was put on these benefits. Brown’s bill would extend the period of eligibility for the Fry Scholarship to spouses of servicemembers killed between 9/11/2001 and 12/31/2005 so that they will have enough time to complete a four-year degree.

The House companion to the Military Spouses Achieving College Education for Survivors Act of 2016 is endorsed by Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), Gold Star Wives of America National Military Family Association, Special Operations Warrior Foundation National Association for Uniformed Services, Military Officers Association of America, The Enlisted Association, Air Force Association, Air Force Sergeants Association, Fleet Reserve Association, and the Association of the United States Army.