Fast-Tracking Payments to Vets

STATEWIDE - ing the doors to the opportunities of higher education.”

“This bill will make possible needed modifications in the TRIO programs, both responses to the changing needs of today’s students and corrections to reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies,” said Maureen Hoyler, The Council for Opportunity in Education (COE). “We are deeply grateful for their attentiveness to the recommendations of TRIO educators.”

Specifically, the Educational Opportunity and Success Act would achieve the following:

Reauthorize funds for the TRIO Programs for the next six years.

Establish more reasonable guidelines for notice of pending grant competitions.

Require the Department of Education to increase its notification period from 45 days to 90 days to help ensure all prospective grant applicants have an adequate opportunity to submit a successful application.

Remove administrative burdens to ease and update the application process. The bill would direct those applications denied in error be funded directly out of funds reserved for administrative purposes.

Institute common-sense guidelines. The bill would make permanent a new policy that was implemented after the Department of Education attempted to reject dozens of TRIO applications in 2017 for non-substantive formatting criteria, such as font size and line spacing. It would also institute a straightforward appeals process for minor errors.

Ease administrative burdens in determining eligibility. TRIO administrators could work with college financial aid offices to more easily identify potential participants by virtue of their Pell eligibility. Meanwhile, in middle and high schools, TRIO’s Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Centers programs could serve students at schools where more than 40% of attendees receive free or reduced-price lunch.

Update TRIO eligibility criteria to reflect the most recent FAFSA requirements. The bill would also ensure that TRIO administrators do not have to consult multiple sources of data, but rather may use student’s most recently completed FAFSA to determine program eligibility.

Require virtual training to reach more applicants. The bill would require at least one virtual, interactive training for interested applicants, better ensuring that all areas of the country have the chance to access the TRIO programs.

Provide greater flexibility for programs serving non-traditional students. Recognizing that some students may not go on to higher education immediately after high school or earn a degree within two or 4 years, this bill would update criteria for several programs to provide greater flexibility to non-traditional students, including veterans.

Increase student stipends, which have not been updated since 1980.

For more information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio.

Maine lawmakers recently introduced a bill to fast-track reimbursements from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to Maine Veterans’ Homes (MVH).

In 2021, Congress passed legislation authorizing the VA to cover the costs of in-home care for veterans with dementia provided by state veteran homes, but the VA has still not begun processing the reimbursements. This delay has forced MVH, and in some cases, veterans and their families, to pay out-of-pocket for the care, costing approximately $130,000 per month, and over $2.5 million since 2019. The Reimburse Veterans for Domiciliary Care Act would require the Department to begin payments for current care as mandated by law and retroactively provide MVH with the reimbursements for past care. Senator Susan Collins and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree are co-leads on the bill.

“For decades, Maine Veterans’ Home has provided worldclass care to our state’s veterans. They’ve worked hard to meet America’s commitment to those who served despite rising costs and a lack of financial support from the Department of Veterans Affairs,” said the senators and representatives in a joint statement. “The... Act requires the VA to fulfill its promises and help ensure older Maine veterans struggling with dementia can continue receiving the care they need. We hope Congress will swiftly pass our bipartisan, bicameral legislation to end the unfair reimbursement delays and meet our nation’s solemn promise to the brave men and women who answered the call of service.”

“Maine Veterans’ Homes is grateful for the efforts that have gone into the Reimburse Veterans for Domiciliary Care Act,” said Sharon Fusco, MVH chief executive officer.

“This bill ensures rule-making is completed on legislation that was passed in 2021.”

Domiciliary care was established by the VA after the Civil War as a type of in-home assisted living that is provided to older veterans who are independently mobile or semi-mobile but are incapable of living alone because of disabilities.

Over 130 MVH residents receive domiciliary care, 80% of whom are on Medicaid.

The care was federally reimbursed up until 2019, when the VA abruptly ended payments. The Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act, signed into law on January 5, 2021, authorized the VA to resume reimbursements for domiciliary care at state homes like MVH. Twenty-eight months later, the VA has yet to announce a proposal for the payments.

The act would mandate that the VA publish a proposed rule in the Federal Register for domiciliary care reimbursements no later than 90 days from it being enacted. The Act would also mandate that the VA enact the finalized reimbursement plan within 180 days of the proposal, or 260 days of the bill being enacted, whichever is sooner. The third and final mandate would ensure payments to eligible veterans would be retroactive to January 5, 2021.

For more information, visit www.mainevets.org.

Empowering Mainers to Improve or Establish Their Credit Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. –

Senator Angus King is cosponsoring a bipartisan bill that would help millions of Americans improve or create their credit scores. The Credit Access and Inclusion Act would permit the reporting of rent, telephone, and internet bills to credit agencies, allowing Maine people who pay their bills on time to build a positive credit history. This expansion would help those currently without credit scores establish them based on daily household payments.

“When you’re trying to rent an apartment, open a credit card, or lease a car, the first question you’re asked is ‘how is your credit’ – but not all your basic monthly payments are included in this process. If you pay your bills on time, you should be able to show creditors your track record of being responsible and on schedule,” said Senator King. “The Credit Access and Inclusion Act will help millions of Americans build credit scores that better reflect their responsible financial decisions. This is a bipa rtisan, commonsense step to remove barriers that prevent hardworking Maine people from accessing essential opportunities.”

Approximately 26 million Americans are “credit invisible,” meaning they lack credit records or history of traditional payments like student loans, car loans, or mortgage payments. Having thin credit makes economic mobility difficult and hampers an individual’s ability to purchase a home, take out student loans, buy a car, or even get a job. The Credit Access and Inclusion Act allows

See CREDIT on page 27 . . .

. . . LIBRARY from page 7

Call the library at 207-646-8181 or visit www.wellslibrary.org.

William Fogg Library

Rainy Day Matinees

On rainy days, the library will host family movies, complete with free popcorn! Showtimes at 1 p.m. on any rainy day that the library is open. Contact the library for more information.

Rug Raffle

The library is raffling off a handhooked rug donated by Karen Crane. Tickets are $10 each, available at the library.

Outdoor Story Time

Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. throughout the summer, weather permitting.

LEGO Club

Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. Young builders build creations based on the week’s provided theme, or do their own thing and show off their skills.

Meditation Group

Meets online every Thursday, 9:3010:30 a.m.

Baby/Toddler Story Time

Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.

School-Age Story Time

Thursdays at 2 p.m.

Dungeons & Dragons

Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. For middle and high schoolers. Beginners welcome at any time. Register online or call.

Board Game Café

Fridays at 1 p.m. throughout the summer. Kids and adults are invited to play both classic and new board games from our collection.

World Citizens Story Time

Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.

For More Information

Call the library at 207-439-9437 or visit www.williamfogglibrary.org.

York Public Library

July Movie: The Fabelmans

Saturday, July 29 at 2 p.m. in the Community Room. Young Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker as he reaches adolescence, but soon discovers a shattering family secret.

Art Exhibit: Linda Gerson

Through August 30. Gerson’s exhibit showcases contemporary abstract work in paint, collage, ink, pastel, and graphite.

Story Time at York Land Trust

Mondays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. at York

Land Trust headquarters, 1 Long Neck Marsh Rd., York. Stories, songs and rhymes with a YPL librarian. The group meets inside for stories and an activity, and may venture out into the garden