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SENATOR JIM WEBB INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO
BRING
BACK THE "OLD" GI BILL -- Would give modern
vets the
same level of benefits provided to GIs at the
end of WWII.
Way to go Senator Webb!
Now, we'll see if this "progressive"
110th Congress will do the right thing for veterans.
Story here...
http://www.americanchronicle.com/
articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=18689
Story below:
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Webb Introduces Sweeping Expansion of Veterans Education Benefits
Congressional Desk
Democratic Leadership Identifies New GI Bill as Priority.
Washington, D.C. – Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) launched his career in the
United States Senate Thursday by introducing a sweeping expansion of the
education and training benefits currently available to the nation’s 2.4
million active duty and reserve members of the armed forces.
The “Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007” (S.22) is
designed to provide veterans with a level of educational benefits
identical to those provided to service members at the end of World War
II.
The new benefits package included in Webb’s legislation (S.22) would
include coverage of tuition, room and board, and a monthly stipend of
$1,000. Existing law – known as the Montgomery GI Bill – provides
financial support of up to $800 per month for veterans’ educational
expenses, but does not necessarily cover the full cost of higher
education or career training. In addition, existing law requires
participating service members to pay $1,200 in their first year of
service in order to qualify for the benefit.
“The Montgomery GI Bill served this nation well during peacetime, but
times have unfortunately changed,” Webb said. “The demands placed on
soldiers and sailors in this post 9/11 era are much greater than when
Congress established the current program. With many of our military
members serving two or three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, it
is past time to enact a new veterans’ education program modeled on the
World War II era GI bill.
“This is exactly what our legislation does. It will provide veterans of
the 9/11 era with the same program of benefits that our fathers and
grandfathers received after World War II.”
Webb said Senate Democratic leaders assigned a low number to his bill,
(S.22), signifying that it will be a priority for consideration early in
the new Congress. Democratic leaders are also including enhanced
educational assistance in a national defense bill that will be one of
their ten priority bills.
“I am very pleased that we have succeeded already in putting this issue
on the table and making it a priority for our men and women in uniform,”
said Webb.
Webb stressed that the GI Bill of the World War II era is universally
credited with sparking economic growth and expansion for a whole
generation of Americans, and he predicted that his proposal holds
similar promise for today’s modern economy.
“Our nation has never erred when it made sustained new investments in
higher education and job training,” he said. “The bill I have introduced
today is not only the right thing to do for our men and women in
uniform, but it is also strong tonic for an economy plagued by growing
disparities in wealth, stagnant wages, and the outsourcing of American
jobs.”
Senator Webb’s bill is likely to be referred to the Senate Committee on
Veterans Affairs. Webb serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee, as well
as the Joint Economic, Armed Services, and Foreign Relations Committees.
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Larry Scott
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