By Megan Alley
Sun staff

The federal Veterans First Act, which was unveiled on April 28, includes a number of provisions intended to enhance the protections and services that veterans and their families receive, including a tuition assistance benefit that will directly effect one Batavia woman and her family.

Sen. Sherrod Brown spoke about a few of the provisions he supports during a conference call on May 11, including increased access for veterans to permanent housing, improved accountability of Veterans Affairs and protection for whistleblowers, protection for veterans against exploitation by for-profit colleges and expanded access to the VA’s Family Caregivers program for veterans of all eras.

The bill also includes Brown’s Military Spouses Achieving College Education for Survivors Act of 2016, which extends the eligibility period for The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship. While the scholarship provides post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to the surviving spouses and children of service members who died in the line of duty, the benefits have a 15-year limitation.

Melissa Twine is an Air Force veteran from Batavia who supports Brown’s legislation.

Melissa Twine’s husband, Captain Philip Twine, died in 2002 while serving in the Air Force; he was 34 years old.

The Twines had three children, and Melissa Twine was eight months pregnant with the couple’s fourth child when Philip Twine passed away.

Melissa Twine had earned her undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Cincinnati prior to her husband’s death, and it was the couple’s plan that she would go on to earn her master’s degree, but those plans were put on hold when Philip Twine died; Melissa Twine needed to focus on caring for and supporting her family as a single parent.

Today, Melissa Twine is in a situation where she can return to school, but her benefits will expire before she is able to complete her advanced degree.

“Now, as Captain [Philip] Twine’s wife tries to go back to school to pursue her master’s, she and so many other serving spouses don’t have the time to use the benefit,” Brown explained. “This year, we’re going to change that.”

Brown’s bill would extend the scholarship eligibility to spouses of service members killed between September 11, 2001, and December 3, 2005, so that they will have enough time to fully take advantage of this benefit, according to a press release.

“We’re going to make sure that families who have sacrificed so much get the benefits they deserve,” Brown said.

Melissa Twine plans to earn her master’s degree in either biology or research; she hopes to attend UC or Wright State University.

“My husband was very supportive in pushing educational benefits,” she said. “He encouraged me to finish my four-year degree and was very adamant about obtaining as high an education as you possibly could.”

She added, “By obtaining a higher degree, you can also reduce and get off of some of the benefits you’re receiving, such as survivor’s benefits through social security, which are based on your income level for the widows; that money is needed for other people.”

During the call, Brown also spoke about a provision that would expand eligibility for the VA’s Yellow Ribbon program, which helps students avoid out-of-pocket tuition and fees for education programs that cost more than the allowance set by the post-9/11 GI Bill, according to a press release.

The program allows institutions to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed either the annual maximum cap for private institutions or the resident tuition and fees for a public institution, according to the VA website.

Currently, spouses and children of service members who died in combat cannot take advantage of the program; only veterans and the spouses and children of service members who elected to transfer their benefits may participate.

Melissa Twine hopes for a quick Senate vote on the bill.

“Hopefully we’ll hear something before Memorial Day, because that would just be the ultimate reward on that day for those of us who have lost so much,” she said.

Sen. Rob Portman cosponsored the Act with Sen. Johnny Isakson and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who introduced the act, as well as more than 30 other cosponsors.

“Our veterans deserve the best care available. It is our duty to care for those who are willing to fight for our freedom and security. The Veterans First Act will ensure improvements to the Department of Veterans Affairs that are sorely needed, especially in places like Cincinnati where we must ensure that our veterans receive the proper level of care,” Portman said in a press release.