Senator Baldwin, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Maritime Academy Students

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a bipartisan and bicameral group of colleagues to reintroduce legislation to expand the age eligibility for the Maritime Administration’s Student Incentive Payment Program.

The Changing Age-Determined Eligibility to Student Incentive Payments (CADETS) Act – which the Senators introduced and passed through the Senate last Congress – will expand the Student Incentive Payment Program eligibility age for financial assistance to cadets who attended one of the six State Maritime Academies and commit to a post-graduation service obligation to include any qualified student who will meet the age requirements for enlistment in the U.S. Navy Reserve at their time of graduation. In return for their commitment to serve, cadets can receive up to $32,000 in this incentive payment funding over four years to help offset the cost of tuition, uniforms, books, and living costs.

“The Great Lakes are essential to our Made in Wisconsin economy, and investing in our maritime workforce will not only strengthen national security, but also support Wisconsin’s manufacturers, farmers and producers who rely on our water highways to deliver their products to market,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am pleased to work with Democrats and Republicans to move our maritime industry forward and help young people who want to serve their country pursue careers with the U.S. Navy Reserve.”

Current Student Incentive Payment Program age requirements prohibit cadets older than 25 from participating in the program. State Maritime Academies have programs to recruit former military veterans and servicemembers, but most of these cadets are too old to qualify for this funding. As a result, older students—many of whom are veterans—therefore do not qualify for this program due to their age. The Senators’ CADETS Act will expand the eligibility age to include any qualified student who will meet the age requirements for enlistment in the U.S. Navy Reserve at their time of graduation, and ensure that high-performing, non-traditional cadets can receive this funding.

In addition to Baldwin, this legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Todd Young (R-IN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Mike Braun (R-IN). Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Jack Bergman (R-MI-1).

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