Webb introduces legislation to preserve Post-9/11 G.I. Bill
Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), author of the landmark Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, today introduced bipartisan legislation to preserve those veterans’ education benefits from abuses by certain schools. Troubling statistics show that the cost to taxpayers to send a veteran to a for-profit school is more than double the cost of a public university and that eight of 10 educational institutions collecting the most V.A. benefits are for-profit schools.
The Military and Veterans Educational Reform Act of 2012, cosponsored by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Tom Carper (D-DE), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Scott Brown (R-MA), would make critical reforms to protect the integrity of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and military tuition assistance. It would require schools participating in educational assistance programs through both the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense to meet the same educational standards currently required for other federal funding. Read more
Webb: Post-9/11 Bill has helped 500K
Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) today made the following statement on the three-year anniversary of the Post-9/11 GI Bill being signed into law:
“Today marks the three-year anniversary of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. I was privileged to introduce this landmark legislation on my first day in office. We began with a simple concept—if we continue to call our veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan the next ‘Greatest Generation,’ then we should as a nation express our appreciation in a proper way by giving them the same educational benefits as those who served during World War II.
“Our idea was to provide those who have served since 9/11 the most comprehensive educational benefits since World War II, and we did just that. As of today, more than 875,000 students have applied to receive their new benefits and more than 500,000 have enrolled in classes on the Post-9/11 GI Bill. That’s half a million men and women who otherwise might not have had the opportunity to attend college.
“The United States has never erred when it has made sustained new investments in higher education and job training – and its veterans. Educated veterans not only have an easier transition and readjustment experience, but they boast higher income levels, which in the long run increase tax revenues.
“We can all take pride in saying that we have brought about a proper investment in the future of those who, since 9/11, have given so much to this country.”
Signed into law on June 30, 2008 and implemented two years ago, the Post-9/11 GI Bill offers returning service members up to 36 months of benefits including payment of tuition, fees and educational costs, plus a monthly housing allowance while enrolled in full-time training.
Webb marks one year of Post-9/11 GI Bill
Edited by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va. marked on Wednesday the one-year anniversary of the implementation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which has offered more than a quarter of a million veterans and their families the opportunity to attend college or training programs.
After introducing the bill on his first day in office, Sen. Webb successfully spearheaded the greatest expansion of veterans benefits in the past 25 years.
Signed into law on June 30, 2008 and implemented one year ago, the bill offers returning service members up to 36 months of benefits including payment of tuition, room and board, fees and educational costs plus a $1,000 a month stipend while enrolled in full-time training. Read more
President, Webb, Warner mark enactment of New GI Bill
At George Mason University on Monday, Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) was joined by President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, former Sen. John Warner, and student veterans at an event celebrating the enactment of Webb’s “Post-9/11 GI Bill,” which offers comprehensive educational benefits to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. On Saturday, August 1, the Department of Veterans Affairs began distributing tuition payments to schools across the nation participating in the program. Read more
Webb Post-9/11 G.I. Bill passes House
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Jim Webb’s Post-9/11 G.I. Bill passed the House of Representatives on Thursday, moving the nation a giant step closer to doing the same thing for recent military veterans that we did for the heroes of World War II.
“(Thursday’s) House vote places veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars one step closer to realizing the first-class future that they are due,” said Webb, a Virginia Democratic senator and military veteran. “This bill lays down a definitive marker that those who have served us honorably since Sept. 11 deserve the same comprehensive educational opportunities as our veterans of World War II.” Read more
