Veterans

The men and women who bravely serve our country domestically and overseas make great sacrifices to protect the freedoms we enjoy.  I will always be a strong advocate for veterans and their families, as it is important to continue to thank our veterans for their tremendous service. 

For example, I voted for the new GI bill, which is now law.  In creating a new GI Bill, we are able to thank our veterans by giving them the chance to attend college and succeed when they come home.  The expanded GI Bill, contained in the Supplemental Appropriations Bill, will restore full, four-year college scholarships to veterans serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

In addition, I introduced a bill to support our military families, based on a successful Illinois program.  H.R. 5941 calls for a National Military Family Relief Fund to which taxpayers would voluntarily contribute by filling in an amount on their federal income tax forms. The amount for the relief fund would be added to the supporter’s tax bill or deducted from a rebate.