OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Vin Gopal today released the following statement regarding an announcement that the Trump administration signed a memorandum directing the Department of Education to eliminate all federal student loan debt owed by tens of thousands of severely disabled veterans:

“The weight of college debt can be a tremendous burden on veterans with disabilities, and I want to thank the federal government for moving to give our veterans such critical assistance,” said Gopal (D-Long Branch). “Now, we at the state level need to make sure that New Jersey veterans don’t have to pay a single extra cent in state income taxes on this well-deserved windfall. I’m directing my staff to investigate whether this debt forgiveness will trigger any increase in state taxes, and promise to push any legislation necessary to make sure that our courageous and dedicated veterans can receive this debt relief tax-free.”