GI Bill

Shares stories of local veterans, urges action

10/16/09 -- Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Ron Klein (FL-22) submitted testimony to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs describing the state of the new GI Bill in South Florida in order to bring attention to the experiences of local veterans.    » read more »

10/14/09 -- Washington, DC – Just days after meeting with local veterans who have been struggling to obtain benefits under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, Congressman Glenn Nye (VA-02) is asking for answers from Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki.

At a hearing of the House Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday morning, Secretary Shinseki told Congressman Nye and others that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) had anticipated that there would be delays in administering the tuition benefit program, but that they had underestimated the magnitude of the problem.    » read more »

May 23, 2008 -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today issued the following statement in commemoration of Memorial Day:

"This weekend we honor the brave men and women who have defended our country and those who have lost their lives on the battlefield. They deserve the very best in return, which is why the Democratic Congress passed the bi-partisan 21st Century GI bill to help them pay for college when they come home.

We believe that if someone is willing to put on the uniform for the United States of America, we should do everything we can to help them and ensure their success when they come home. I'm proud that both of our Democratic candidates for president took time off from the campaign trail to vote in support of this important legislation.    » read more »

Veterans of the Wars in Iraq & Afghanistan Closer to Realizing Comprehensive Educational Benefits for their Service

May 22, 2008 -- Washington, DC—The Senate today overwhelmingly passed landmark legislation to provide post-9/11 veterans with comprehensive educational benefits, introduced by Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) seventeen months ago on his first day in office.

The measure—cosponsored by Sens. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), John Warner (R-VA) and a strong bipartisan majority of their colleagues—was passed in the House last week. Identical measures were included in the Iraq War emergency supplemental spending bills.

The following is a statement from Senator Webb:    » read more »

McCaskill votes to expand educational benefits for military men and women

May 22, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today voted with her colleagues in the Senate to overwhelmingly pass legislation that will expand educational benefits for today’s soldiers, similar to the benefits provided to America’s “Greatest Generation” under World War II’s “GI Bill.”

The bipartisan Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act (S.22), which passed with a vote of 75-22, will provide those who have served in the military since September 11, 2001, an opportunity to pursue a higher education. McCaskill co-sponsored the bill.    » read more »

Vows to fight Bush’s expected veto of the New GI Bill with action in Veterans’ Affairs Committee

May 22, 2008 -- Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka issued the following statement today regarding his votes in favor of passage of amendments to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill (H.R. 2642):

Bush protester: Photo by Maggie Tacheny (CC)    » read more »

WASHINGTON, May 21 – Senator Bernie Sanders, a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today urged the Senate to approve a new GI Bill that would provide expanded education benefits for a new generation of veterans.

The legislation that Sanders (I-Vt.) cosponsored would guarantee a full scholarship to any public, in-state university for veterans who served three years in the military, including activated National Guard troops and reservists. The expanded benefits also could be used for students at private colleges and for graduate schools.    » read more »

Senators Bond and McCaskill Vote on Historic GI Bill Tomorrow; Education Funding Would Help Thousands of Missouri Iraq Veterans

May 19, 2008 -- NEW YORK - Tomorrow, May 20th, the Senate is expected to vote on a World War II-style GI Bill for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

This bipartisan legislation, originally introduced by Senators Jim Webb (D-VA), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and John Warner (R-VA), is whole heartedly endorsed by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest non-partisan Iraq veterans' organization, and all the leading Veterans Service Organizations.    » read more »

Iraq Veterans Urge Lawmakers to Vote Yes on GI Bill Funding

NEW YORK -On Thursday, May 8, the House of Representatives will vote on a World War II-style GI Bill for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, strongly endorses this critical legislation.    » read more »

More than 100 Iraq Veterans Converge on Capitol Hill Steps Tomorrow at Noon

NEW YORK - This Tuesday, more than 100 veterans from across the country will join members of Congress to rally for a 21st Century GI Bill. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, will participate in the Capitol Hill event.    » read more »

April 22, 2008 -- Washington, DC— The following is a statement from Senators Jim Webb (D-VA), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and John Warner (R-VA):    » read more »

Full Page Newspaper Ads Urge Senators and Representatives to Make Education Affordable for New Veterans

April 14, 2008 -- NEW YORK - Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, today ran full page ads in newspapers across the country urging key Senators and Representatives to support a modern GI Bill for America's newest generation of veterans.

Iraq veterans against the war: Photo by Night Heron (CC)    » read more »

April 2, 2008 -- John McCain says he "believes that meeting the needs of our service members who defend us is our obligation" and is on a "Service to America" campaign tour visiting military bases and colleges while highlighting his own military service. But at the same time, he has yet to support an important initiative in Congress to help service members and veterans pay for college, despite speaking today at the Naval Academy and Pensacola Junior College, two institutes of higher education.

Senator John McCain: Photo by Chris Dunn (CC)    » read more »

Senator to Push New GI Bill that Greatly Expands Financial Education Assistance for Returning Veterans

April 2, 2008 -- Current GI Bill isn't Equipped to Handle Wave of Young Returning Soldiers Leaving them Unable to Meet Rising College Costs Averaging Over $17,000 at a Public Institution in NYS - Only 15% of all those Currently Deployed Hold a Bachelor's Degree; Number of Younger Vets Across Upstate NY is Set to Soar: Currently there are 84,000 Vets in the Capital Region, over 74,000 in CNY, over 14    » read more »

May 16, 2007 -- Washington, DC - Standing with leaders from veterans service organizations, education, and housing, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Patrick Murphy (D-PA), former U.S. Army Captain and Iraq war veteran, today announced that they have introduced legislation in both chambers of Congress to enact a new GI Bill for the 21st Century. The new legislation, the 21st Century GI Bill of Rights Act of 2007, will expand educational, housing and entrepreneurial opportunities for soldiers, veterans and their families.    » read more »