Families of Virginia Heroes Fight to Preserve Education Benefits

The families of American heroes who lost their loved ones in the line of duty are outraged at recent changes that will impose tighter restrictions on education benefits for participants receiving tuition waivers from the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program.

Tanya Barrett's son was six years old when her husband, Mark, lost his life in the line of duty as a state trooper. Now a student at the University of Virginia, expectations of his tuition being fully covered under the state statute could be sidelined.

"When my husband died in 2010, the state of Virginia had a statute in place that says if you die in the line of duty while serving the state, you would get education taken care of. For us, it was just the tuition piece. It wasn't anything else," she told "Fox & Friends First" on Thursday.

Families of Virginia Heroes Fight to Preserve Education Benefits

"My son was six at the time, and he's grown up and going through high school, and we literally planned our life around him going to a state-supported school in Virginia. He's now at University of Virginia. It's great for him. [But] he's grandfathered in one more year, and it could be taken away after that."

Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin and lawmakers "made changes to eligibility for the program in the two-year budget set to take effect on July 1," according to local reporting. After hearing from families who will be affected by the changes, Youngkin asked lawmakers to tweak parts of the bill that prevented some families from participating in the program. The Democratic-controlled state Senate declined to take up the bill to exempt some families from the changes, however, leaving Youngkin "stunned."

Families of Virginia Heroes Fight to Preserve Education Benefits

In response to the news, he wrote the following on Twitter: "I stand with our military heroes, first responders and their families today who are stunned that Senate Democrat leadership failed to even consider a simple bill, supported by a bipartisan majority of Senators, to reverse the changes to VMSDEP."

"There is a senator in Virginia that is holding this bill up," Barrett said, likely referring to Democratic Sen. Louise Lucas. "I think it was discussed [in the Senate] Monday, and it was held up. On Friday, it should go to the House. It should be a no-brainer. The bill will pass. It still has to go back to the Senate then."

Families of Virginia Heroes Fight to Preserve Education Benefits

As for her son, Barrett said he has already applied for scholarships outside of the program, and they will take hurdles as they come.

"I've told him that we'll do what we've always done. We'll do what we've done since 2010. We'll figure it out," she said.

Families of Virginia Heroes Fight to Preserve Education Benefits

The families of the fallen heroes are not alone in their fight. The Virginia State Police Association has also voiced its opposition to the changes, saying that they will "devastate" the families of fallen officers.

"This is a slap in the face to the families of our fallen heroes," said VSPA President Michael Payne. "These families have already sacrificed so much, and now they are being asked to sacrifice even more."

The VSPA is urging the state Senate to reconsider its position and pass the bill to exempt the families of fallen officers from the changes.

The families of the fallen heroes are also asking for the public's support. They have started a petition on Change.org, which has already garnered over 10,000 signatures.

"We need the public to stand with us," said Barrett. "We need them to let their voices be heard and tell the state Senate that this is not right."

The families of the fallen heroes are fighting for what they believe is right. They deserve our support.