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S. 22, The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007
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Visitor Comments
Andrew Webb
This bill, if enacted, would totally change the GI Bill by eliminating distinctions between reservists and regulars, eliminating the requirement that participants contribute $1,200 when they're least able to afford it, etc.
However, I think it would probably be VERY expensive.
Eideann Newport
I am a post 9/11 veteran and I have delayed continuing my education because I was unable to afford to go to school on just the GI Bill. I think this is a fantastic bill that will allow many veterans the opportunity to finish there education and become productive members of the workforce.
Mike
I am a veteran and I know alot of people who NEED this bill and would be unable to afford collage otherwise. Also, this bill is nothing new, it is giving the exact same benefits as those Veterans who served in WWII recieved.
Tim
As a veteran whose GI Bill eligibility expired long ago,I commend Senator Webb for proposing this enlightened piece of legislation. As a life long resident of the State of Washington, I am disappointed that neither Senator Murray nor Senator Cantwell have signed on as cosponsors.
Selena
I am an active duty member, and I know I can't afford to use my GI bill when it gets out-money for tuition only, no money for books or living expenses. This bill is long overdue. Give us back what the WWII bets get.
Gabe
The current version of the GI Bill is in dire need of reform. The current
benefits, although helpful, do not provide the type of assistance that
past generations have had. This year, my cost to attend school will be
nearly $51,000. $1075 per month (about $13,000/year-- about %20 of cost)
does little to cover my living expenses, let alone my tuition. Please urge
congress to expedite the passage of this bill and help the thousands of
veterans who have gave so much, the opportunity to further their education
and improve their lives.
Frankie
I have seen Al Qaeda members close up. It was a real wake up call. Why would you not want to engage your returning veterans to be the next generation of leaders?
What is the harm of giving combat veterans a hand up? Would you rather deny them the chance to better themselves? Should we turn a blind eye and instead have more become dependent on the system?
We have a divide in most parts of American society. There are those who have served and many more who have never served, and I can tell you first hand the latter are not enthusiastic about employing the former --too many question marks, too much risk.
Can you afford not to educate your veterans? I think not. If we had more veterans leading our states of affairs, we would be fighting a smarter "war on terror."
Ellen
"Expensive" is a relative term. The costs of this bill will be minor in context of what it provides. Not just needed assistance to deserving veterans -- as if that isn't enough; but also an investment in our country. The costs of this bill will be a small price to pay for making America great.
I'm a peacenik and have been against the war from the beginning. But that doesn't mean I can't recognize our society's obligation to the men and women who are brave and generous enough (or maybe just desperate enough) to protect and serve all of us.
Passing this bill is a moral imperative.
Josh
As a new veteran, I have begun my college education in the state of Illinois. I am here because my wife is stationed here with the Air Force.
Although states like Illinois and Texas have grants that pay 100% tuition for veterans attending school full-time, they are only available to those who were residents of said states before time in service.
Right now the Montgomery GI Bill covers the expenses of school, but I am currently attending a community college. When I transfer in another year to a four year university, the GI Bill will no longer cover the expenses and I will rely heavily on whatever scholarships and grants I can get, without them I will not be able to finish my education.
The passing of this act to reform the GI Bill will allow me to rest easy knowing that my education will be paid for.
Josh Hale
I am a member of the Army National Guard. The Bill as is, contributes to many enlistments that we already have. By further updating this Bill, I believe there would be a boost of the number of people enlisting.
This will help people in more ways than just one.
Jeff
Add a provision for use of the GI Bill toward qualified business investments. Getting a business loan is virtually impossible for most former soldiers. Lenders require cash down payments and net worth far in excess of what vets were able to acquire while in military service.
Bill
So fat from what I have read, I agree with this bill. While some people in the military are worried about people leaving. For recruiters this is a great tool. Tuition, books and a striped of money for room, board and school materials. If someone says it is too expensive? We have spent 80 billion on this war. What is 2 billion more? It is a great investment and well deserved. Now we have to get out there a push it.
Paul
The WW2 GI Bill returned $7 to the economy for every $1 spent. That's why this bill makes sense, but it's not the most important reason to pass it. Quite simply, we owe this to these men and women.
Mark K
Why are we really caring about the expense so much? Really... what cost do and have they borne for us? Especially in such a senseless situation as Iraq?
Bradley
I'm serving in the Army, and my wife is currently using her GI Bill benefits from her time in the Air Force. While getting the benefits helps us pay some of the bills, my wife still has to carry a part-time job while I work full time in order for us to afford her educational costs and our small family's modest living expenses. This is long overdue, and the opposition from DOD is yet another example of how the administration is hanging its volunteer soldiers out to dry.
It's absolutely absurd to me that critics of this bill are saying that it would be bad for post-military educational opportunities to look attractive just because of retention. That's analagous to the days when the elite would prevent the poor or indentured from learning to read in order to keep them from organizing or learning.
Jeff S
At it's best it is but a token of the gratitude we owe to the men and women who serve in the armed services, yet filibusters by the republicans are holding it down.
It's hard to imagine anything more shameful.
As further proof that McCain has drank the Kool-Aid and abandoned his morals, he won't speak up. Says he's 'been too busy to read it and doesn't think he could support in anyhow.'
How hollow his rhetoric about 'honor' and 'supporting our veterans.'
Mariana
I am a new Air Force veteran. I initially came in to the service to fulfill my duty to my country and to get my foot in the door as far as society and school go. If it wasn't for the military benefits...such as the GI Bill, there wouldn't be as many people enlisting in the armed services. Although the GI Bill is a great tool for all who separate or retire from the military...it isn't enough to satisfy their educational goals. The GI Bill was established to give the brave men and women who defend our country an opportunity to better themselves by getting an education and continue to be positive members of society. But, with the bad economic situation our country is in at this moment...the GI Bill is not enough. I believe the post 9/11 Act is long over due and I am ashamed that congress has not approved of it yet.
Nate
I am an Air Force veteran and I am skeptical about our leaders' ability to follow through with what is right for the long term future of our country. They represent me and many others, and we expect them to do so. I sincerely hope this bill isn't just a bit of presidential campaign PR for both party candidates. If anything, I would rather the GI bill were increased than be led along into believing in a deserved break for veterans that has only just been introduced into Congress and could very well stop short as do many bills that are introduced. Our country is becoming something of an economic joke and education can at least keep our cutting edge troops on the cutting edge of the economy for the long term. More importantly for the government, they can generate more tax revenue and profit for various private-sector organizations that hire college grad veterans.
JOE
I am a veteran and I know alot of people who NEED this bill and would be unable to afford collage otherwise.There are people from other countries that dont do anything for this country and get more benefits and more money for school then the Vets who have bleed for this country.i can say that there will be Iraqi's who will get more money for college then I.....
Jeremy
"a Defense official said it also would encourage thousands of young service members, trained at great expense, to separate after completing their initial service obligation to attend college fulltime."
Initial service obligation.
Like Webb, I feel it is absurd to find that the military would limit vets benefits simply to "trap" more soldiers into reenlistment. It is my right, as a volunteer soldier, to choose if I reenlist or not. As of now, it is hard for many soldiers to move on and educate themselves, because some will not make the extra money for school outside of the military. some may only remain active in order to study. This is a risk to their education, and a waste of benefits. A deployment or even just a change of station can extend the time it takes to go to school enough that the 36 months paid by the GI bill are not enough.
Jeremy
One more thing. My father explained that as a retention NCO, He learned that there is nothing you can do to keep a soldier in who doesn't want to stay, and there is nothing you can do to get a soldier to leave, if he wants to stay.
Robert Dublin GA
Great Plan, it's about time we
begin a positive approach of taking care of our miltary, to include retention now if we can only get MR McCain and his colleagues to support it...how ironic of him, two generations of military and he says it's too expensive. -Republican Voter sitting on the fence
Dan
I'm a registered Republican voter but when I heard that McCain and a few others were now trying to change a bill that has been in the works for over 16 months because of expense and retention questions, it made me want to say "wake up" and take care of those who are protecting America and giving it all in many cases. I've been waiting a long time for this change and need this bill to be able to have education benefits prior to my departure from the military in a few years because of family issues when I first enlisted. I hope this bill becomes law soon or I may have to change the way I see my supporting party in November.
RTO Trainer
This is really another attempt to bleed the DoD budget by taking the money off the top. The opposition has been unable to defund operations, but if they mandate greater and greater non-operational spending requirements, eventually ops money has to go into these other things. This is a pattern of behavior and this one more cynical than some others (such as still not funding BRAC requirements), because it masquerades as a benefit.
I'm not willing to accept more and more benefits at the expense of the job that's supposed to earn them for me.
If we have extra money to spend how about we fix the VA claims adjudication system? Or spend more money to fully equip the Guard (for the first time ever) faster than the current program?
We can't have everything. And if it comes down to a choice between winning/finishing the job overseas or more benefits, I'll gladly choose the former.
RTO Trainer
Go look at this one: http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_SN_2938.html
It would cover more veterans (not just post 9/11), it allows transfer of benefits to spouses and children, won't cost near what S22 will and won';t harm retention.
OIF/OEF Vet
RTO Trainer: So by your logic wouldn't you support getting rid of the current GI Bill since that must be hurting current retention? I know plenty of people that are staying in the Army and won't leave for anything!
The military needs to focus on making serving a rewarding experience-if this happens retention will take care of itself. This new GI Bill would pay for itself may times over with the increases in income taxes collected over the coming decades not to mention the intellectual gains.
RTO Trainer
OIF/OEF Vet-- Well, the current GI Bill doesn't incentivize leaving service to use it. I'm one of those people who won't leav for anything, and that'd be true if I didn't already have a BA.
Thid new GI Bill might pay for itself in the long run, but at a cost to the current force in the meantime, and we are still fighting a war.
SPC
RTO trainer-- you might want to consider the benefit of encouraging bright minds(out of high school), incentified by the increased educational benefits, who will join the armed services and add value to the institution. Those who wish to become officers after their education will. Those who remain in civilian life will promote our country by stimulating instead of draining the economy.
RTO Trainer
Our Army won't amount to much without the career NCOs too and lots of us have or are getting degrees.
And don't let your self think that I'm not in favor of encouraging education just because I find this bill to be poorly done.
You don't mean to imply that those who remain in the service and don't achieve a college education are a drain on the economy, do you?
Dave H
Pass this bill...this is one bill the government SHOULD throw money at to fix a problem. It is sickening to think the average terrorist knows multiple languages and comes from a prestigious schooling...whereas the average military guy is a high school grad.
TomC
Senators Webb and Warner have added a provision as of the 21st to allow transferability to spouse and children. This bill is now a must pass from a moral, recruitment and retention standpoint.
Danny
This bill is a must especially for all those military that have been waiting years for a chance to enroll in an education plan after serving their country for years as career military members. Not everyone made a perfect decision when first entering but should they be renounced because of that even though they served honorably over the years, I would say not. Military members are deserving of this bill and it must be enacted; as for the war, funding will come for that but taking care of those who are fighting these wars should always come first. Retention will also be there and for those who leave, then they were never career minded in the first place and would not make an outstanding career NCO or SNCO. If they want to add a provision for retention after-the-fact if it is having an impact then by all means that could be done but holding this bill up is doing nothing for the thousands that are waiting for someone to get this passed and enacted.
Joe
Wow...this column seems a bit one-sided. Points for RTO Trainer for respectfully disagreeing. While my self-serving side hopes this passes as I would get a free-ride, this bill is bad for the military. Several of my Soldiers last year who would have seperated reenlisted only for the School Option. These people were E-5s and senior E-4s who would be immediately eligible under this new plan and would have taken it. The Army would have lost bright junior leaders, the exact people we are currently short of. Recruitment is not as large of a problem as retaining good junior leaders in transitional stages. I favor educational support for Soldiers, and I would like to see some changes to the GI Bill, but there are better ways to both give the them the support they deserve as well as encourage the use of their education on further service to America.
Lorenzo Lovato
Thank You Senator Webb
Bradley
Something tells me RTO opposes this bill largely because of the "(D)" next to the names of those who have most strongly championed it.
RTO, the military needs career NCOs, but the fact is that college degrees bear little correlation with NCO leadership. I know far too many NCOs who have these worthless Excelsior or U. of Phoenix degrees, and those degrees contribute little or nothing to the professional qualifications of a soldier. Of course, one might argue that the low standards in our Army do little to keep up competence either, but I digress.
Trapping soldiers into re-enlistment is worse, not better, for the national interest. Worrying about minimal retention issues is short-sighted at best.
Sarah
As an airforce vet I could use what they plan on dishing. But thier retention pleas fall on deaf ears... Why would an active duty person concerned with paying for thier education actually leave the military? As active Duty goes, thats the best way. Active duty members get 100% tuition and books paid. Only after they get out do they have to worry about how many months of thier GI bill they got left and how much college they can cover in that time.
I got my A.A.S in the service. Paid nothing for it. Could have gone further for a B.S, A Masters or even a doctrate and had the Military pay 100%. so saying it is a retention buster is 100% WRONG. Stay in and you pay nothing for your education, and you still get to work full time and have no medical bills. Get out and work full time to pay medical bills, and school!
This bill needs to be pushed so we vets don't have to work as hard for eduacation as we did for our country.
Jared
After analyzing the bill I found that the BAH with dependents rate for where I live is $1027.00 per month. However, since tuition for me after the Cal State Pel Grant is only about $600 per semester, the cost of covering tuition isn't as much of a burden for me as it is with larger four year universities. If I count the $1000 book bonus on top of that I equate my total earnings to come out to $1210.33 dollars per month. Thus giving me about a $109 per month increase over all from the $1101 per month rate I get right now as a full time year around student. However, some of the other student veterans that attend school with me make more than that with the GI bill kicker which comes out to about $1251 per month. Therefore these people are losing about $40 dollars per month. So this just goes to show that people who live in areas of lower housing costs and attend schools with lower tuition rates might actually lose money.
Jared
As for the nation as a whole, I think the bill is a fabulous idea. It may decrease military retention but increase recruitment, placing more people at the bottom of the rank pyramid and less at the top (The military is a bit top heavy right now), allowing for better promotions in the service. And it will give vets the opportunities to go back to school without having to worry about the burdens of survival for them and their families as they prepare themselves for a better future. And the universities win as well, with guaranteed tuition money from every interested veteran. And the veterans win out with college acceptances, since universities will be more inclined to take in students who are guaranteed to pay their tuition on time and are more likely to follow through until graduation.
Jared
And for those of you who believe in staying in the service to get an education, remember, there are a lot of enlisted that serve whom have very little opportunity to take classes while serving in active duty (I'm sure many Marines will sympathize). This just offers opportunities for those who wanted to get out and go to school full time but could not the ability to finally do so. This will also help with the problems of poverty and homelessness that often strike veterans (over 1/4th of the US homeless population are veterans). Now if they just expand the Veterans Upward Bound federal TRIO funding to help vets get up to par scholastically then we'll really have something.
Nikki
You do know that the bill will give money to people served at least 90 days, but less than 6 months, on active duty in the Armed Forces (excluding service on active duty in entry level and skill training);
and continues on active duty for an aggregate of less than 6 months;
or before completion of service on active duty of an aggregate of 6 months, is discharged or released from active duty as described in subsection (c).
And it doesn't not mention anything about vets exculsively. it will allow natl gard to earn as much money as those on active duty regardless of deployment or not.
I think all McCain is worried about is people leaving the military; but hey, that is exactly what I am going to do if I can get a lot more money for school.
Joshua
The old G.I. Bill is a joke. With TA for six years and the G.I. Bill I still would not be put through college. Don't get me wrong, it would help, but the military lures us in with promises of a paid ride through college. We are young and inexperienced and a lot of us do not know any better. I did not even get my G.I. Bill because I could not transfer it to my wife, and I never planned on attending college. Five years later and $27000 in debt to student loans, that was a mistake. I'm not too ashamed that I did not get the G.I. Bill, because it is a joke. It does irk me a little that the military promises us a free ride through college only for us to be awoken years after being in the military.
The higher ups main concern with this G.I. Bill is not money. All they care about are the numbers. They are afraid it is going to hurt the number of "lifers".
Joshua
Got Cut off:
This is utter bs if you ask me. Who would rather have a world full of soldiers instead of a world full of thoroughly educated men and women to make the world a better place? Bush's republican party; that is who.
This bill will pull in more people than ever before. I don't know what it will do to "lifers", but in the end this should be passed and enaacted. More people contributing to society by learning the trades of the future; that is what this G.I. Bill will do.
Bush promises to veto this bill now that it was passed in Senate with 75 positive votes to 22 negative.
Lets hope and pray that they override his ridiculous veto.
Bush does not care for us troops.
I am currently an the Air Force and separating in about a month (July 08). I'll be Guard then, and I hope this bill is enacted so I can afford college.
Joshua
TA is not 100% tution, and an A.A.S. is nothing. I could get that for about $1500. I just hope you aren't talking about that joke CCAF.
TA is 100% tutition up to a certain amount per credit, and limited to $4500 per fiscal year. I use that in TWO terms, and I could use it in ONE term if I had four classes. I would also like to see you start from scratch and get a B.S. onsite at a military base. Good luck getting it within 8 years, especially if you have a family.
Imo there is no getting a B.S. start to finish while serving active duty unless you go online, or you are single and dedicated, if so, more power to you.
TA is a joke, and so is the G.I. bill we currently have.
Jeremy
Id like to put forth that while I am happy to do what I do as a Colorado National Guardsman, the sole reason that I had enlisted in the first place was to go to college. Many others came in for the same reason.
After three years in service and a deployment to Iraq, I am jumping on the opportunity to go to school before another probable deployment. I would like to have my degree long before i turn 30. Please pass this bill. You can tell from the comments above this is a one sided argument. The only people against it just happen to be in charge.
Chris
What happens to those who payed for the GI Bill and the kicker. Is the kicker useless now that the new gi bill is coming out? If this new GI bill comes out do those who payed for the kicked get that money added onto the new gi bill? I cant find my anwsers :/.
Mike
As a veteran in school in CA with some of the most expensive schools. This would help a lot. now that i have said that why is everyone posting like they have never heard of a student loan or those of you that are still serving save some of your money since you should be aware that you will need it later if you plan to go to school.
FC3 Hopkins
I have served my time in the Navy and am about to receive my discharge. Do you have any idea what this did to alleviate my fears of post military life? I joined to fight, serve, and better support my son as a single father. Thank you America. This bill isn't solely, nay primarily for us vets. It is for the country as a whole, the economy, and the families that will be able to supported due to a good college education that most of us sacrificed to be in the service.
Debbie
What a blessing to be able to pass on my GI Bill to my dependents. Just as my daughter is beginning her first year of college and my fear of unending debt was growing. My kids were a part of the active duty military family for 20 years and continue still with my husband on active duty. This will help educate our future leaders and keep them out of debt. I hope clear guidance is coming soon.
Larry
In Response to Andrew Webb and Tim From WA State. To get the record straight, Senator Webb did stipulate that they must contribute the initial $1,200 to be eligible for the GI Bill. I am also from WA State Tim and you should be happy to know that Sen. Patty Murray has co-sponsored this bill.