Published: June 23, 2008 05:05 pm         

Vote doubles education benefits for vets

Bill awaits Senate vote

The GI Bill of Rights, an amendment to a bill funding the war on terror, passed the U.S. House Thursday by a 416-12 vote. The bill doubles veterans education benefits to fully cover four-year college costs for U.S. service members. The bill is funded by $68.2 billion over 10 years. Another $8.2 billion included in the bill will fund unemployment benefits for veterans for 13 weeks past the regular 26 week period.

President Bush, who initially threatened to veto the bill, has now indicated his intention to sign it into law. The bill must first pass the Senate later this week.

House members voted 268-155 to approve $162 billion in funding for the war on terror. The GI bill was an amendment to that bill. Both will be rolled into one bill for the Senate vote.

The education portion of the bill is tagged to the public university with the highest tuition rate in each state, said Josh Taylor, communications director for U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco.

The bill restores the promise of the original GI Bill, passed in 1944, to ensure a full four-year college education for America’s veterans, Edwards said. The bill doubles the benefit from about $9,000 to about $18,000 per year.

“Not only will this strengthen our military,” Edwards said. “It will also allow the heroes of Iraq and Afghanistan to spur the American economic recovery, just as the original GI Bill did after World War II.”

Under the bill, U.S. servicemen and women returning from Iraq or Afghanistan, who have served three years of active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, would receive benefits to cover the costs of a four year education up to the level of the most expensive in-state public tuition.

They would also receive a monthly stipend of about $1,000 for living expenses and $1,000 annually for books. Veterans who serve six years or more may also transfer their education benefits to their children and spouses.

Current veteran education benefits only cover about 60 percent of the cost of a public school education, Edwards said.

“This new GI Bill must become the law of the land,” Edwards said. “Our veterans deserve no less.”

     

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