Senators Reverend Warnock, Cruz Introduce Bipartisan Legislation Providing Additional Pathways for Aspiring Military Servicemembers

Thebipartisan and bicameral Improving Military Recruitment at Senior Military Colleges Act creates a system to allow applicants to Military Academies to elect to have their information shared with senior military colleges

Senator Reverend Warnock: "This bill will help connect aspiring leaders who desire a world-class military education and training with our nation's storied military schools like the University of North Georgia, which is a win for our state and for our country"

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced the bipartisan and bicameral Improving Military Recruitment at Senior Military Colleges Act. The legislation establishes a system to allow applicants to the Nation's Military Service Academies (MSAs), including the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy, to elect to have their information shared with senior military colleges (SMCs). This bill ensures that highly qualified candidates not provided the opportunity to attend the MSAs are given the opportunity to consider alternative paths to military service.

"The Improving Military Recruitment at Senior Military Colleges Act will help connect aspiring leaders who desire a world-class military education and training with our nation's storied military schools like the University of North Georgia, which is a win for our state and for our country," said Senator Reverend Warnock. "I am proud to help lead this bipartisan effort with Senator Cruz, and will always be proud to support Georgia's military communities."

"Throughout my tenure, I have been proud to nominate many highly qualified and talented Texans to our nation's Military Service Academies, and I recognize the challenges many deserving candidates face due to the high level of competition. Those reasons are why I initiated a program, in partnership with Texas A&M, that successfully provided an alternative pathway for aspiring military leaders," said Senator Cruz. "Now, I am proud to be working with Sen. Warnock to expand this proven model nationwide, and to ensure the United States Armed Forces attract the best officer candidates to face future challenges. I call upon the Senate to expeditiously advance this legislation."

A champion for Georgia's veterans, military families and servicemembers, Senator Warnock has been active in the Senate working to strengthen federal support for Georgia's military communities. Last year, Senator Warnock helped to pass the PACT Act, the largest expansion of veterans' health benefits in decades. Additionally, this summer Senator Warnock introduced bipartisan legislation to bolster access to affordable and quality housing for servicemembers. The United States' senior military colleges include the University of North Georgia, Texas A&M, Norwich University, The Citadel, Virginia Military Institute, and Virginia Tech.

Representatives Marc Veasey (D-TX-33) and Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

Read the full bill text HERE.

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