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President George Bush signed legislation June 30 that guarantees far
greater educational benefits for veterans. The new GI Bill, officially
named the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act, passed both houses
of Congress earlier in the month. Starting in August 2009, veterans will
be entitled to receive up to $90,000 over 36 months for college tuition,
room and board.
"This legislation is a tribute to our system of government and
those who labored to bring it to fulfillment," said Marty Conatser,
national commander of The American Legion. "What a tremendous way
to say thank you' to our men and women serving so courageously in uniform."
Conatser
said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi "worked relentlessly
to develop consensus with the House, Senate and executive branch to bring
this bill to fruition. Thanks in large part to her committed leadership,
this momentous piece of legislation will resonate as a landmark in American
history."
The American Legion, led by Past National Commander Harry Colmery, wrote
the original GI Bill of Rights - the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of
1944. According to many historians, that legislation changed the course
of U.S. history. A generation of heroes was able to attend college, join
the middle class, achieve home ownership and live the American dream.
The current legislation, championed by Sens. Jim Webb, D-Va., Chuck
Hagel, R-Neb., John Warner, R-Va., and Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., will
provide more than $62 billion over 10 years in college funding for veterans.
The new bill provides veterans who served in the military for at least
three years full tuition at any in-state public college or university,
along with monthly housing stipends and cash allowances for textbooks.
Benefits can also be used at private schools.
Besides
providing equality among active-duty, National Guard and reserve
members, the bill eliminates the need for each servicemember to pay
$1,200 as an "entry fee" for
the benefits. Those who have paid into the current Montgomery GI Bill
will not receive refunds, but they will qualify for the new GI Bill.
Everyone who has served on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, will receive
the new educational benefits.
"Legionnaires are especially grateful to Sen. Jim Webb for authoring
the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act that led to today's new
GI Bill," Conatser said. "His commitment and resolve to restore
the kind of comprehensive educational benefits that our warriors deserve,
and earned, never wavered."
The measure includes a provision that allows veterans who served at
least 10 years to transfer some or all of their educational benefits
to spouses or children. Servicemembers earn such transferability for
their spouses after six years of active duty, and for their children
after 10 years.
Conatser
said that giving veterans "the resources they need to
accomplish their mission, while providing them with a true GI Bill for
the 21st century in a single piece of legislation, is truly an historic
event that will benefit America for years to come."
To
read a preview of "The Road to a Better GI Bill," which
will appear in the August issue of The American Legion Magazine,
click
here.
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