Posted on 06/30/2008 11:40:28 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
WASHINGTON - President Bush today signed legislation ushering in a new era in GI Bill benefits. The legislation, which the Senate last week passed overwhelmingly, is part of a $162 billion war spending bill.
"We are very excited that after 18 months of working on the GI Bill that it's been passed into law," said Patrick Campbell, legislative director for IAVA. "Now veterans everywhere will see their opportunities greatly expanded."
The administration has opposed the new GI Bill on the grounds it would be too expensive, while the Pentagon has been concerned the more generous benefits - including a free four-year college degree program - would inspire more Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines to leave after their initial enlistment.
But in signing the bill today, Bush praised the bill, including for a provision that permits veterans to transfer unused benefits to spouses and children.
"We also owe a debt of gratitude to our nation's military families. They endure sleepless nights, and the daily struggle of caring for children while a loved one is serving far from home," he said. "So I'm pleased that the bill I sign today includes an expansion of the GI Bill. This legislation will make it easier for our troops to transfer unused education benefits to their spouses and children."
Bush said the expanded benefits will help "to recruit and reward the best military on the face of the Earth."
The new GI Bill was framed by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., who has long argued that veterans deserve benefits that match those given to World War II vets. Then, returning GIs were covered for the full cost of tuition and books for whatever college they entered; in addition they were paid a monthly stipend.
Under the new GI Bill, payment rates will go up, but be based on the college or university costs in the service member's state of residence. The veterans also will receive a monthly stipend for books.
The bill passed by Congress also provides a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits and $2.7 billion in emergency flood relief for the Midwest.
The spending bill will bring to more than $650 billion the amount Congress has provided for the Iraq war since it started more than five years ago. For operations in Afghanistan, the total is nearly $200 billion, according to congressional officials.
New GI Bill Overview
I’m all for the Vets benefits. Were there any pork earmarks attached to this?
It was a spending bill in the current Congress, controlled by the wife of a defense contractor and a con artist from Nevada, so what do you think?
The administration has opposed the new GI Bill on the grounds it would be too expensive,
President Bush,
I would much rather see my tax dollars going to aid our Military veterans and their families, then to illegal immigrants, welfare cheats and frauds, Cities that have allowed their spending to become out of control and a myrid of other useless and wastefuls social engineering programs and areas that our tax dollars currently go to....
An American Tax Payer.
The article credits Webb for the bill, but doesn't note that it was McCain that pushed for this provision, and that Webb previously opposed the provision because his bill would encourage poeple to quit the military and McCain's addition would make it less likely.
IMHO, it’s great that we are going to provide these benefits for those who have put their lives at risk to protect the rest of us. Now, we should also work on expanding to provide for those who served in previous wars and make sure that those who need it get the medical and psychological services they need. I also think that the pork attached needs to disappear. We the tax payer should not be paying for those who are in this country illegally.
BUMP!
It can be hard for them to use. Sometimes it takes 6 months to get it started.
My wonderful husband is active duty military, currently serving (for the fourth time) in Iraq. He is currently in his 25th year of service.
I have no problem using my tax benefits for the benefit of our military and their families. (I should note that I already have my doctorate, and my husband has a B.A., so we personally will probably not use these benefits ... but others will)
MOLLY
“The administration has opposed the new GI Bill on the grounds it would be too expensive, while the Pentagon has been concerned the more generous benefits - including a free four-year college degree program - would inspire more Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines to leave after their initial enlistment.”
Shame on President Bush and the pencil pushers at the Pentagon for opposing the GI bill on those grounds.
My son is out of the navy in six months. He is planning on going to college and starting a business. He has already started the process of “processing out” and they are making sure that he knows what his options are. They want veterans to take advantage of it.
As an aside: I’m glad he’s getting out before the next president takes office (just in case it’s BHO!) (God forbid!)
I have a son going to school this fall who is directly affected by a yes or no here, and we can't find a clarification anywhere (He enlisted 6 months before 9/11 and went 4 times to Iraq).
The only places I see the eligibility dates spoken of seem to indicate that if you enlisted on 9/10/2001, you would NOT be eligible:
For example: Wikipedia:
"Bill summary
The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 improves educational benefits for certain individuals who began serving on active duty in the Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001."
There is nothing on the VA site that suggests they have yet heard of this bill (typical VA foot-dragging.
Thanks much!
The Viet Nam version enabled us to buy our first home and to assume a mortgage of a Vet for a home in California.
Later it helped to pay for my MBA.
Hopefully this will help our worthy Vets of the 21st Century like it did for the vets of WWII and the Viet Nam War.
July 01, 2008 - The Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008 (The New GI Bill)
*************************EXCERPT********************
June 30. 2008, the President of the United States signed into law the new GI Bill, giving members of our military greatly improved benefits. One benefit that was included is the ability to pass your entitlement down to family members! This is a huge benefit in the minds of many of our servicemen and women.
One important item to note is when the benefits go into effect.
“When is The Post-9/11 GI Bill effective?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are payable on
August 1, 2009 towards training completed after
7/31/2009.” http://www.gibill.va.gov/S22/S22%20Fact%20Sheet%20version%201.0.pdf
I did not include a complete rundown of benefits, as that would make this article very long. Instead, you can access the pdf file here and see for yourself.
Here is the VA source I found for the link to this pdf file.
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