Daily Whackjob

S. 22, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act specifically mentions GMU, not UMW. Mr. Martin heard crying over his tuition bill.

Mr. WEBB. Mr. President, I rise today to speak in support of a bill that I am introducing, entitled the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007. This bill is designed to expand the educational benefits that our Nation offers to the brave men and women who have served us so honorably since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

As a veteran who hails from a family with a long history of military service, I am proud to offer this bill as my first piece of legislation in the United States Senate.

Most of us know that our country has a tradition–since World War II–of offering educational assistance to returning veterans. In the 1940s, the first G.I. bill helped transform notions of equality in American society. The G.I. bill program was designed to help veterans readjust to civilian life, avoid high levels of unemployment, and give veterans the opportunity to receive the education and training that they missed while bravely serving in the military.

To achieve these goals, the post-World War II G.I. bill paid for veterans’ tuition, books, fees, and other training costs, and also gave a monthly stipend. After World War II, 7.8 million veterans used the benefits given under the original G.I. bill in some form, out of a wartime veteran population of 15 million.

Over the last several decades, Congress subsequently passed several other G.I. bills, which also gave educational benefits to veterans. However, benefits awarded under those subsequent bills have not been as generous as our Nation’s original G.I. bill.

Currently, veterans’ educational benefits are administered under the Montgomery G.I. bill. This program periodically adjusts veterans’ educational benefits, but the program is designed primarily for peacetime–not wartime–service.

Yet, now our Nation is fighting a worldwide war against terrorism. Since 9/11, we have witnessed a sharp increase in the demands placed upon our military. Many of our military members are serving two or three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. In light of these immense hardships, it is now time to implement a more robust educational assistance program for our heroic veterans who have sacrificed so much for our great Nation.

The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007 does just that. This bill is designed to give our returning troops educational benefits identical to the benefits provided to veterans after World War II.

The new benefits package under the bill I am introducing today will include the costs of tuition, room and board, and a monthly stipend of $1,000. By contrast, existing law under the Montgomery G.I. bill provides educational support of up to $1,000 per month for four years, totaling $9,000 for each academic year. This benefit simply is insufficient after 9/11.

For example, costs of tuition, room, and board for an in-state student at George Mason University, located in Fairfax, Virginia, add up to approximately $14,000 per year. In addition, existing law requires participating service members to pay $1,200 during their first year of service in order to even qualify for the benefit.

Let me briefly summarize some of the reforms that are contained in the bill I am introducing today.

First, these increased educational benefits will be available to those members of the military who have served on active duty since September 11, 2001. In general, to qualify, veterans must have served at least two years of active duty, with at least some period of active duty time served beginning on or after September 11, 2001.

Next, the bill provides for educational benefits to be paid for a duration of time that is linked to time served in the military. Generally, veterans will not receive assistance for more than a total of 36 months, which equals four academic years.

Third, as I mentioned a moment ago, my bill would allow veterans pursuing an approved program of education to receive payments covering the established charges of their program, room and board, and a monthly stipend of $1,000. Moreover, the bill would allow additional payments for tutorial assistance, as well as licensure and certification tests.

Fourth, veterans would have up to 15 years to use their educational assistance entitlement. But veterans would be barred from receiving concurrent assistance from this program and another similar program, such as the Montgomery G.I. bill program.

Finally, under this bill, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs would administer the program, promulgate rules to carry out the new law, and pay for the program from funds made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the payment of readjustment benefits.

Again, I note that the benefits I have outlined today essentially mirror the benefits allowed under the G.I. bill enacted after World War II. That bill helped spark economic growth and expansion for a whole generation of Americans. The bill I introduce today likely will have similar beneficial effects. As the post-World War II experience so clearly indicated, better educated veterans have higher income levels, which in the long run will increase tax revenues.

Moreover, a strong G.I. bill will have a positive effect on military recruitment, broadening the socio-economic makeup of the military and reducing the direct costs of recruitment.

Perhaps more importantly, better-educated veterans have a more positive readjustment experience. This experience lowers the costs of treating post-traumatic stress disorder and other readjustment-related difficulties.

The United States has never erred when it has made sustained new investments in higher education and job training. Enacting the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007 is not only the right thing to do for our men and women in uniform, but it also is a strong tonic for an economy plagued by growing disparities in wealth, stagnant wages, and the outsourcing of American jobs.

Mr. President I am a proud veteran who is honored to serve this great Nation. As long as I represent Virginians in the United States Senate, I will make it a priority to help protect our brave men and women in uniform.

I am honored that the Senate Majority Leader has agreed to join with me to be a defender and advocate of our veterans. The Majority Leader has included the concepts of the bill I introduce today in his leadership bill designed to rebuild the United States military. Additionally, I plan to work closely with Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman AKAKA–and all of my Senate colleagues–to statutorily update G.I. benefits.

Together we can provide the deserving veterans of the 9/11 with the same program of benefits that our fathers and grandfathers received after World War II.

Mr. President, I ask that the bill I introduce today–the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007–be printed in the RECORD along with this statement.