Under Democratic leadership,
the Senate advanced a bipartisan initiative (based on S. 22, the Post-9/11
Veterans Educational Assistance Act) to expand educational benefits for our troops and
veterans who have so honorably served our country since September 11, 2001.
This 21st century G.I. bill would closely resemble the benefits
provided to World War II veterans under the original G.I Bill of Rights. The
legislation is strongly supported by leading national veterans' service
organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), The American
Legion, the Military Officers' Association of America (MOAA), and Iraq and
Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).
Specifically, the bill
would:
•
Provide increased educational
benefits to all members of the military who have served on active duty for at
least three months since September 11, 2001;
•
Offer educational assistance in
proportion to the total length of active duty service on or after 9/11, from
three to 36 months, to provide a maximum benefit of the cost of any in-state
public school's tuition and fees for four academic years;
•
Create a new program in which the
government would match any additional contributions to veterans from colleges and
universities whose tuition is more expensive than the maximum assistance
provided; and
•
Allow veterans up to fifteen
years after they leave active duty to use their educational assistance benefit,
rather than ten years currently provided under the Montgomery G.I. program.
The
new G.I. bill will provide a true readjustment benefit for veterans of the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan, while also strengthening our all-volunteer force
The new G.I. bill will
provide comprehensive educational benefits in recognition of the war-time
service of our troops. Iraq and
Afghanistan war veterans, many of whom have served two, three, and even four
tours of duty, have earned the right to a first-rate education that reflects
their service and sacrifice. This modernized G.I. bill will restore the
promise of a college education in return for military service. It will provide
returning troops and veterans who have served on active duty since September
11, 2001, with expanded educational readjustment benefits similar to those
offered to World War II veterans, to ensure that this new "greatest generation"
of heroes has the resources to meet the demands of the 21st
century.
The new G.I. bill will
ensure equity among active duty and National Guard and Reserve members for
their war-time service. Since 9/11,
our National Guard and Reserves have served as an operational force, fighting
alongside active duty troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. This modernized
G.I. bill will fully recognize and reward this service by providing
members of the National Guard and Reserve with an equitable chance to receive
the same increased educational benefits as their active duty counterparts.
The new G.I. bill will
rightly ensure that the education of our veterans is a cost of war. Investing in the future of our returning troops and
veterans is as critical as providing them with the resources they need on the
battlefield. The estimated $3 to $4 billion per year cost of this 21st
century G.I bill represents approximately the cost of just one week of military
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The new G.I. bill will
strengthen our military and invest in our country's future. While the main purpose of veterans' educational
benefits is to provide for readjustment for returning veterans, a comprehensive
G.I. bill also is anticipated to enhance recruitment and strengthen our
economy. Not only will the opportunity of an education help attract promising
new recruits to the military, these new high-quality service members may choose
to continue their military service beyond their first term. Further, just as
the original G.I. bill helped foster economic growth following World War II,
higher education and job training benefits provided to these new leaders will
strengthen our economy at home.
The Bush Administration
and its Republican allies in Congress are alone in opposing a comprehensive new
G.I bill. The Bush Administration
has said that these expanded benefits are "too generous" and raised unfounded
claims that a comprehensive G.I. bill would negatively impact military
recruiting and retention. Bush Republicans in the Senate have responded by
offering a watered-down G.I. bill alternative that falls significantly short of
honoring the first-class service of our service members. This is yet another
example of the Bush Administration's failure to match its rhetoric of
supporting the troops with meaningful action. Our men and women responded
bravely to the call to serve our country, and have often endured repeated and
extended deployments since 9/11. They deserve nothing short of the full
benefits provided by our bipartisan 21st century G.I. bill.
Democrats
Have A Strong Record of Putting Our Troops First
Senate Democrats have
secured billions in additional funding for VA programs to ensure the first-rate
service and care for our nation's veterans:
•Senate Democrats secured $3.2 billion in additional funding above the
President's request for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs for Fiscal
Year 2009, primarily for VA medical services and benefits programs. (S. Con. Res. 70)
•Under Democratic leadership, the Senate provided a $3.6 billion increase
for VA medical services, veterans' benefits, and VA construction and
maintenance for Fiscal Year 2008. (P.L. 100-161)
•Senate Democrats passed a Revised Continuing Appropriations
Resolution for Fiscal Year 2007 that filled in a $3.5 billion funding
shortfall for veterans' health care left behind by Republicans. (P.L. 110-5)
•Democrats secured nearly $1.8 billion in additional funding for
veterans' health care, veterans' benefits, and VA construction needs in the
2007 emergency supplemental appropriations bill. (P.L. 100-28)
Senate Democrats have
worked to maintain and invest in top-notch VA and DOD medical facilities. Senate Democrats led the effort to provide $3
billion in Fiscal Year 2007 emergency funding for military health care - $1.9
billion above the amount the President requested - to address shortfalls in
care at Walter Reed and make critical investments in military hospital
improvements. Democrats also secured $550 million in emergency Fiscal Year
2007 funding for non-recurring maintenance needs identified by the VA as well
as $290 million for minor construction for VA-identified needs. Further, under
Democratic leadership, the Senate provided an additional $397 million in Fiscal
Year 2008 funding above the President's budget request for the construction and
maintenance of VA hospitals and clinics to ensure that VA facilities do not
fall to the same neglect experienced at Walter Reed. (P.L. 110-28; P.L.
110-161)
Senate Democrats have
fought to ensure first-rate care for wounded warriors. Democrats led the effort to pass the Dignified
Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act, which established a comprehensive
policy on the treatment and management of wounded warriors in order to
facilitate and improve their care, rehabilitation, and provide for seamless
transition from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans
Affairs, and transition from military service to civilian life. Senate Democrats
also led the charge to include additional funds in the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget
Resolution in order to fully implement critical provisions of the bill.
(P.L. 110-18l; S.Con.Res. 70)
Democrats have worked to
enhance mental health care for our service members and veterans. With a growing number of service members returning
from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Senate Democrats are continuing to lead
the effort to ensure these veterans get the mental health care they need. Senate
Democrats provided $900 million in emergency Fiscal Year 2007 funding for TBI
and PTSD treatment and research and also included an additional $1.8 billion in
Fiscal Year 2008 funding for the VA medical services account for polytrauma
care and improved mental health services. Further, Senate Democrats passed a
bipartisan initiative to strengthen suicide prevention initiatives - The
Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act of 2007 - to significantly
improve mental health services for returning war veterans. (P.L. 110-28; P.L.
110-161; P.L. 110-110)
Senate Democrats have
worked to secure increased pay for our servicemen and women. The Senate provided a 3.5 percent pay raise for all
military personnel this year despite objections from the Bush Administration
that called the extra raise above its requested 3 percent "unnecessary." In
the coming weeks the Senate will take up legislation that would provide a 3.9
percent military pay raise for Fiscal Year 2009, which again is .5 percent
higher than the President's budget request. (P.L. 110-181, S. 2787)
Democrats have repeatedly
rejected Bush Administration proposals to impose new health care fees for
veterans and retirees. Senate
Democrats have consistently rejected the President's budget proposals that call
on veterans and military retirees to pay more out of their own pockets
for health care.
Democrats have fought to
provide survivors and military families with benefits and services they need. Senate Democrats have worked to improve and expand
critical benefits and outreach programs to assist service members, veterans,
and their families before, during, and after deployment. Democrats have
championed provisions to extend TRICARE benefits to primary caregivers of
wounded and critically ill service members, increase benefits provided to
survivors of military personnel, improve the support for and coordination of
family readiness programs, and increase educational support for military
families. (P.L. 110-181)
Under Democratic
leadership, the Senate has moved to alleviate the current strain on the VA, to
ensure that the system has the capacity to meet current and future needs of
veterans. Senate Democrats included
$133 million in additional Fiscal Year 2008 funding for the Veterans Benefits
Administration to hire up to 1,800 additional claims processors to address the
current backlog of more than 400,000 disability claims pending at the VBA. Democrats
also provided $60.75 million in Fiscal Year 2007 emergency funding for expenses
related to hiring and training additional disability claims processors. (P.L.
110-161; P.L. 110-28)
