House authors Edith Nourse Rodgers of
Massachusetts and John Rankin of Mississippi look on as President
Roosevelt signs legislation popularly known as the "GI Bill of Rights." |
The original drafts of the
WWII "GI Bill" written in 1944 by Mr. Harry Colmery of The
American Legion are preserved under glass. |
World War II "GI Bill"
The
original World War II "GI Bill" exceeded all expectations and had enormous
benefits beyond the immediate ones given to deserving war veterans.
College enrollment grew dramatically: in 1947, GI Bill enrollees
accounted for almost half of the total college population. Following the
war, more than 2 million veterans went to college using GI Bill
educational benefits. The result was an American workforce enriched by
450,000 engineers, 238,000 teachers, 91,000 scientists, 67,000 doctors,
22,000 dentists and another million college-educated men and women.
Since 1944 more than 21 million
veterans and dependents have participated in GI Bill education and
training programs.
Original
GI Bill benefits also included loans for buying a home, farm or
business, and job-finding assistance. VA's home loan program, for
example, is largely credited with creating the suburbs in America.
Since 1944 more than 16 million veterans have purchased homes with help
from VA. The Subcommittee has continually authored legislation to
refine and update these kinds of benefits for our All-Volunteer
Force. On June 20, 2002, Chairman Christopher Smith convened a ceremony with
The American Legion at the Mayflower Hotel. The Mayflower Hotel has
great historical significance for veterans; it was in room 570 that
Harry Colmery, then-National Commander of The American Legion, wrote in
longhand on hotel stationary, the first draft of what would become the
Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (the World War II “GI Bill”).
Chairman Smith was joined by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony
Principi, former Senator Bob Dole, former Chairman of the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs "Sonny" Montgomery, former Chairman of the Benefits
Subcommittee Mike Simpson, Congressman Jim Ryun and the National
Adjutant of The American Legion, Robert Spanogle.
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