Reps. Sheen, Ward, Hoogendyk, Palsrok, Hune, DeRoche, Shaffer, Drolet, Koetje, Kooiman, Anderson, Brown, Adamini, Rivet, Sheltrown, Lipsey, Bieda, Wojno, Meisner, Hopgood, Wenke, Walker, Gieleghem, Farhat, Howell, Ruth Johnson, Caul, Van Regenmorter, Pappageorge, Middaugh, Pumford, Hart, Hager, Mortimer, Woronchak, Stahl, Stakoe, Shulman, Steil, Shackleton, Pastor, Gaffney, Hummel, Accavitti, Bisbee, Richardville, Hardman, DeRossett, Amos, Woodward, Gillard, Murphy, Newell, Caswell, O'Neil, Plakas, Farrah, Condino, Tobocman, Hunter, Minore, Gleason, Spade, Rocca, Moolenaar, Casperson, Bradstreet, Meyer, Acciavatti, Garfield, Nofs, Tabor, Emmons, Huizenga, Phillips, Robertson, Reeves, Vander Veen, LaJoy, Brandenburg, Milosch, Zelenko, Vagnozzi, Smith, Hood and Daniels offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 290.

            A resolution to urge Michigan's public colleges and universities to refund tuition, fees, room, and board to students who are members of the National Guard and military reserves called to active duty after an academic term has started.

            Whereas, As our country continues to fight the threat of terror in the world, our military personnel and their families are making great personal sacrifices.  Although it is clear that we can never fully repay the debt we owe to the men and women who put themselves in peril to safeguard the liberties we enjoy as Americans, we have an obligation to do all we can to mitigate some of the sacrifices members of the military make to defend our country; and

            Whereas, The military initiatives in Iraq and Afghanistan are being carried out not only by troops that were already on active duty, but also by tens of thousands of men and women who have been called to active duty from the National Guard or reserve units.  For these men and women, careers, education, and family responsibilities have been disrupted dramatically.  In many cases, the call to active status takes place very quickly.  For a student who has just started an academic term, mobilization to active duty can mean leaving school after tuition, fees, room, and board have been prepaid and after any dates when refunds may be made by the college or university; and

            Whereas, The financial pressures facing many Guard members and reservists called to active duty can be very imposing.  State institutions should do all they can to accommodate these extraordinary situations by establishing policies that relieve this burden through refunds of tuition, fees, room, and board to students who interrupt their studies to fulfill their military responsibilities; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge Michigan's public colleges and universities to refund tuition, fees, room, and board to students who are members of the National Guard and military reserves called to active duty after an academic term has started; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to Michigan's public colleges and universities.