Veterans will see dramatic increases in their GI benefits through legislation signed by President Bush yesterday. A $162 billion supplemental spending bill (H.R. 2642) to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan included a host of new benefits for GIs. In total the new law provides around $24.7 billion for domestic programs. The Senate passed the spending bill by a 92 to 6 vote last week after receiving the legislation from the House where it passed 416 to 12.
The bill contains all of the provisions contained in S. 22, a bill authored by Marine Corp. veteran Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) last year. The new law increases educational benefits available to members of the military who have served on active duty since September 11, 2001, including reservists and members of the National Guard. Benefit amounts would be based on the amount of time a veteran had served in the military since 9/11. The benefits would be payable for 36 months, the equivalent of four years of college, and would be available for up to 15 years after a veteran leaves active duty.
"It has now been nearly seven years since 9/11 - seven years since those who have been serving in our military began earning the right for a proper wartime GI Bill," said Webb. "[This bill] fulfills the pledge I made on my first day of office to provide today's veterans with the opportunity to move forward into an absolutely first-class future."
At its maximum award amounts, the new law allows veterans pursuing an approved program of education to receive payments covering established charges of their program up to the cost of the most expensive in-state public school. It also provides them with a monthly housing cost stipend plus additional funds to be paid annually to cover books, supplies, equipment, and other educational costs. The legislation makes it easier for veterans to transfer unused education benefits to their spouses and children.
"We owe a debt of gratitude to our nation's military families," said President Bush who hailed the bill as an example of bipartisan cooperation at a press conference held yesterday. "They endure sleepless nights, and the daily struggle of caring for children while a loved one is serving far from home. We have a responsibility to provide for them. So I'm pleased that the bill I sign today includes an expansion of the GI Bill."
By Justin Draeger
NASFAA Associate Director for Communications
Posted 07/01/08 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.
