IAM Members Testify at Maryland General Assembly to Expand Military Veteran Scholarships

Members from IAM Local 4 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River and from IAM Local 2424 at Aberdeen Proving Ground recently testified before the House Appropriations Committee of the Maryland General Assembly. A bill to increase the number of scholarships available to dependents of active duty military service members killed in the line of duty and service connected disabled veterans is moving through the Maryland House this session.

State Del. Brian Crosby (D-District 29B), who represents Naval Air Station Patuxent River and is a military veteran himself, sponsored the Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program (H.B. 529). The bill would remove the cap of 15 scholarships that can be awarded to veterans by the Maryland Higher Education Commision.  

“It’s an easy return on investment,” said IAM Local 4 Shop Steward Joseph “Matt” Langford. According to his research, “10% of all EMTs are veterans, 19% of all firefighters are veterans, and 25% of all police officers [are veterans].”