Virginia Leaders Agree to Restore VMSDEP

Virginia's House and Senate Democratic leaders have reached an agreement to fully repeal recent restrictions on the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Program (VMSDEP) and will introduce legislation to restore the program with additional funding. The proposed bill will allocate $90 million from the FY 2024 surplus, ensuring $65 million annually for the 2024-2026 biennium to cover program costs. This move aims to alleviate the financial burden on universities and other students while maintaining support for military families. Governor Glenn Youngkin expressed his approval of the agreement, calling it great news for military families and first responders. The Senate had previously failed to pass similar legislation multiple times, leading to public frustration among military families and advocates. The legislature will reconvene on July 18 to vote on the new proposal.