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For Immediate
Release
10/19/11
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Senate Approves Bill Providing for Valley Forge Appointments
Sen. Mensch's legislation creates selection process for
military academy/college
The Senate today approved
Senate Bill 560, legislation introduced by Senator Bob Mensch (R-24)
creating a new program for legislative appointments to the
Valley Forge Military Academy & College (VFMA&C).
The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.
"Valley Forge has a long tradition of providing character-based education
within an academic and military environment," said Senator Mensch, a member of
the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee. "The institute
provides the training and discipline that builds a solid foundation enabling
young men and women to be successful in a wide variety of career paths. Its
students have gone on to become military leaders, business and industry
executives, government officials, professional athletes Rhoades Scholars and
White House Fellows."
VFMA&C is a two-year, transfer program from which almost all students move on
to four-year colleges and universities. Valley Forge is also the only
institution in the Northeastern United States offering an Early Commissioning
Program, which allows successful candidates to earn a commission as a second
lieutenant in the Army in two years rather than the standard four years through
ROTC programs at other colleges and universities.
The State Military College Legislative Appointment Initiative Program created
under Senate Bill 560 would allow each member of the legislature to create a
selection committee to recommend an eligible student for enrollment at Valley
Forge. The State Ethics Commission would be charged with developing guidelines
to govern the establishment and functions of the selection committee in order to
prevent conflicts of interests or other potential ethics violations.
"The House of Representatives adopted a Resolution last session which allows
each member of the House to appoint a qualified constituent to the freshman
class at Valley Forge each year and they are eligible to receive a scholarship
funded entirely by the institution," Senator Mensch said. "My legislation builds
on that by providing for the selection process in statute and allowing for an
appointment by every member of the General Assembly." CONTACT:
Tim Hennessey
(717) 787-3110
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