Tucson, Ariz. – Jesse Kelly’s plan to eliminate the Department of Education would not only do damage to Arizona schoolchildren, it would also end a grant program that provides college money to the children of servicemembers killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants help pay college tuition for students “whose parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and died as a result of service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001.” (Source: Student Aid on the web, accessed 10/11/10)

Even after being questioned about his plan by leading Southern Arizona publications, including The Arizona Daily Star and Tucson Weekly, Kelly unapologetically stands by his call to cut $1 billion from Arizona’s struggling public schools and eliminate college tuition assistance that middle class families rely on.

However, the plan contains another devastating cut.

Arizona’s 8th District is home to tens of thousands of military families. By abolishing the Department of Education, Kelly would end this program to help ensure our fallen heroes’ children can still afford an education.

“The Kelly school cuts plan would be a disaster for Arizona’s kids and Arizona’s economy,” said Anne Hilby, communications director for Giffords for Congress. “But ending a college grant program for children who lost a parent in the war is even worse than a disaster. It’s a disgrace.”

Gabrielle Giffords is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the only person in Congress with an active duty military spouse.

She fought for the New G.I. Bill of Rights, so our servicemen and women returning to Davis-Monthan and Ft. Huachuca can afford the full cost of four years of college tuition. And she helped push through the largest funding increase in VA history, so our brave men and women receive the quality care they have earned.

Gabrielle has been endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC as well as leading Southern Arizona veterans, including Sierra Vista Mayor Robert Strain; retired General John Wickham, who served as U.S. Army Chief of Staff under President Ronald Reagan; and retired General Bill Van Dyke, former Arizona Adjutant General.

Gabrielle also supported the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (HR 3221). This bill, which became law in March, reforms the system of federal student loans to save taxpayers $87 billion. It invests $77 billion of those savings back into education, including increasing the maximum Pell Grant from $5,350 in 2009 to $6,900 in 2019 and keeping interest rates low on subsidized federal student loans. It directs $10 billion back to the Treasury to reduce entitlement spending.

Giffords for Congress’ new TV ad, “Absolutely None,” highlights the dangers of Jesse Kelly’s plan to cut more than $1 billion dollars more from Arizona schools. The ad began airing in the Tucson media market yesterday. It can be viewed at http://bit.ly/9q1way.

Gabrielle Giffords is a third generation Southern Arizonan and the only person in Congress with an active duty military spouse. Gabrielle is not like other politicians. She takes an independent view on the issues and was rated Arizona’s most moderate member of Congress by the National Journal in 2009. She’s voted against a Congressional pay raise every time one has come up, and she doesn’t make earmark requests for campaign contributors. Most importantly, Gabrielle stands up for Southern Arizona by working across the aisle to secure the border, protect our military and veterans and create jobs by investing in solar energy.

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