A North Florida Republican is proposing changing veteran higher ed funding to allow more benefits to the surviving spouses and children of military personnel killed in the line of duty.
Towards the end of last week, freshman U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., filed the “Julian Woods Yellow Ribbon Program Expansion Act.” The proposal, named after a fallen hospital corpsman serving in the Navy, would change the Yellow Ribbon Program to include Fry Scholarship recipients. Fry Scholarships permit education benefits to be transferred from killed service members to their surviving families.
Rutherford named the bill to honor Petty Officer 3rd Class Julian Woods who was killed in Iraq while helping a fallen comrade. Woods’ daughter is now college aged and would be helped by the legislation.
“Empowering the family members of our servicemen and women strengthens our communities, invigorates our institutions, and brightens our future,” Rutherford said. “Petty Officer Woods was an American hero, and we are forever indebted to the countless sacrifices made by our servicemen and women just like him. I believe it is our duty to make sure their families have the support they deserve, and I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that expands education opportunities for the loved ones of the courageous service members who have died in defense of our freedoms.”
Carolyn Woods, Woods’ mother, thanked Rutherford for his efforts. “Any work Congress does to enhance opportunities for the families of those who lost a loved one in the line of duty is of incredible importance,” she said. “Julian was a hero for our nation and our family, and I am proud his legacy remains in the Julian Woods Yellow Ribbon Expansion Act. I thank Congressman Rutherford for recognizing Julian, his daughter, and our family and hope this bill helps many families like ours.”
U.S. Rep. Scott Peters, R-Calif., signed on as a co-sponsor. So did U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, D-Fla., who, like Rutherford, also represents parts of Jacksonville.
“San Diego is a proud military town that is home to not just thousands of brave service members, but their families as well,” Peters said. “Military families make tremendous sacrifices in service to our country and deserve our gratitude and our support. Extending the Yellow Ribbon Program to surviving family members is a common sense way to keep our promise to military families that we will support them after their loved one falls in the line of duty.”
The bill was sent to the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee which Rutherford sits on.
