BOSTON, MA – The House of Representatives gave final approval to a Fiscal Year 2006 final deficiency budget late last week, State Representative John Keenan (D-Salem) announced. The spending plan includes $5 million to assist police replace old bulletproof vests and $4.4 million to support tuition and fee waivers for National Guard members enrolled at state and community colleges.

“With a combined total of nearly $10 million, these funds will help our men and women in uniform on two critical fronts,” said Representative Keenan.

“The spending on new bulletproof vests will help outfit our police officers with the protection they need to stay out of harm’s way. The funding for National Guard tuition and fee waivers will give Massachusetts service men and women a 100% educational benefit that honors their service and sacrifice on our country’s behalf,” pointed out Representative Keenan, the leading cosponsor on the “Welcome Home Bill” that extended and enhanced state benefits for Massachusetts veterans.

The tuition and fee waivers were included as part of the “Welcome Home Bill,” an omnibus veteran’s bill passed last year. The $4.4 million reimburses state and community colleges for costs incurred from waiving tuition and fee costs for National Guard members at the start of the current school year. The Fiscal Year 2006 final deficiency budget, which also includes funding for collective bargaining agreements, is now on the Governor’s desk.