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For Immediate Release Contact: Betsy Hart
November 18, 2008 (202) 226-8555

HERSETH SANDLIN HOLDS VA ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING ON IMPLEMENTING NEW G.I. BILL REQUIREMENTS

November 18, 2008, Washington, DC- U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Chair of the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, held a hearing today to discuss the short and long-term strategies of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in implementing the Post-9/11 GI Bill passed this summer. The oversight hearing was part of the ongoing work of Herseth Sandlin’s subcommittee to ensure proper and timely implementation of the new veteran education bill.

At today’s hearing, the VA presented the projected timeline for implementation of the new GI bill in the short and long-term, the governance and program management plans for the new education program, and plans for hiring new employees. Additionally, the VA presented a short overview of the long-term strategy which involves working with the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) to implement its original plan of upgrading its IT systems to a more modern rules-based system.

“While the 110th Congress comes to a close, I would like to assure our nation’s veterans that we will continue to monitor the progress of this critical education program,” Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin said. “We need to do everything we can to ensure that our this program is implemented in timely way that best meets the needs of our nation’s veterans once they return home from service.”

1. Keith Wilson, Director Office of Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration
2. Stephen W. Warren, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Information and Technology
3. Jan Frye, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Acquisitions and Materiel Management

1. Captain Mark Krause, SPAWAR

###

Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and Natural Resources. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Herseth Sandlin was one of only 15 members appointed to serve on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.