New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered the immediate expansion of a program that provides free college tuition and related costs for Gold Star families.

On Wednesday, Cuomo said he directed the Higher Education Services Corporation to broaden the interpretation for New York’s Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute (MERIT) Scholarship.

The scholarship is now available for all children, spouses, and financial dependents of U.S. Armed Forces members who died, become severely or permanently disabled or missing in action while performing their military duties.

Under the previous interpretation, only the children, spouses, and financial dependents of veterans killed in a combat zone were eligible for the scholarship.

 New York honors the sacrifices of Gold Star families in words and in deeds

In a statement, Cuomo said, "Military service is more than just the active military member. I believe the entire family is in service, and we will honor that sacrifice and respect that service not just in words, not just with symbols, but with deeds.

That is why New York is taking immediate action to extend benefits to all those lost or disabled while on active duty, period.”

In addition, the Governor said, “We can never replace the loved one lost, but we can lessen the hardship and make it a little easier to deal with the loss. It is our honor, our obligation and our pleasure to do just that. We hope this gesture helps bring some comfort, peace, relief and justice to those grieving their loss."

Cuomo’s directive comes after Democrats in the New York Assembly’s Higher Education Committee voted against a legislative proposal expanding free college tuition for children of Gold Star families.

The Committee’s Chairwoman, Rep. Deborah Glick said that the existing program is already providing $2.7 million for dependents of veterans serving in the combat zone. She explained that they rejected the proposal because of budget constraints. However, she promised to “make every effort to ensure” allocating additional funding to the program in the future.

On Wednesday, Glick said, “We have been dismayed and concerned over recent misinformation that could dissuade families from applying for the MERIT Scholarship program. I am grateful to Governor Cuomo for making it clear that these supports are available for families, and for clarifying the eligibility."