Arizona State Representative Sonny Borrelli knows that for some veterans being a pilot is a life-long dream. He knows that they served their country and earned their GI Benefits.
Now, Borrelli (R – Lake Havasu City), chairman of the House Committee on Military Affairs and Public Safety, has called for a joint legislative hearing to address concerns about veterans being turned away from a flight school in Prescott, Arizona. The Veterans Administration suspended funding in March for the flight school at Yavapai College, citing a regulation mandating that nonveterans account for at least 15% of students in any education program that receives GI Bill funding. Forty veterans from across the country were slated to start the program this summer, and many had relocated their families to Prescott before learning their program was suspended.
“It’s extremely concerning,” said Representative Borrelli, a 22-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps. “These are men and women who served their country honorably and earned the benefits promised by the GI Bill. Many of these veterans left their jobs and moved their families to participate in this flight training program, and they deserve answers as to why they’re suddenly getting turned away.” For decades, the GI Bill has enabled veterans to go to school after their service, including flight schools. However, VA funding for flight schools has recently come under fire because of the expense and some perceived abuses in the aviation industry. Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R – Ohio) recently introduced H.R. 476, which would effectively terminate all helicopter and flight training programs for veterans by imposing a reimbursement cap of $20,235.02 – far less than the actual cost of flight training.
Borrelli said that he is working with State Senator Steve Smith (R – Maricopa), chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Military and Technology, and hopes to hold a joint hearing of the two committees within the next couple of weeks.
“On the federal side, Senator McCain and Representative Gosar have been fighting hard on this issue,” Borrelli said. “They have been and continue to be strong and passionate advocates for veterans, and we need to do whatever we can on the state level to support their efforts. A joint hearing will get all these issues out in the open and give our veterans a chance to address how the VA’s policies and H.R. 476 affects them. And, hopefully, we can work toward a solution together.”