Duckworth Calls On Congress To Honor The Promises Made To Our Veterans And Military Families By Opposing Cuts To The Post-9/11 GI Bill

Press Release

Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) spoke out this afternoon against cuts to Veterans' Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits currently being considered by Congress and called on her colleagues to honor the promises made to the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. The Post-9/11 GI Bill, one of the most significant Veterans bills Congress has passed in a generation, provides Veterans with important education benefits including a housing allowance and enables Veterans to transfer that allowance to their family members. If the proposed cuts become law, those benefits would be cut in half if a Veteran parent transfers them to their children--breaking a solemn promise Congress made to our nation's servicemembers and military families.

"How dare we decide years after we've promised this benefit to those willing to serve--after they enlisted or stayed in the military partially because of this benefit--how dare we decide it's too expensive or that it costs too much," said Congresswoman Duckworth. "You know what? Running into battle, that costs almost everything--but our troops are willing to give everything, over and over again. Cutting these benefits now is unfair, wrong and simply un-American. We can and must do better."

"I received a degree through the Post-9/11 GI Bill and my husband transferred his benefit to our 15-month-old daughter Abigail," continued the Congresswoman. "I want to make sure that benefit is there for future babies of our troops who are still serving. Just like we expect our troops to keep their word and run into combat when we ask them to, they expect us to keep our promises to them."

Duckworth was joined at today's press conference just outside the U.S. Capitol by Representatives Tim Walz (MN-01), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02), Brad Ashford (NE-02), Beto O'Rourke (TX-16), Kathleen Rice (NY-04), Gwen Graham (FL-02) along with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff and representatives from the Air Force Sergeants Association, the Association of the United States Navy, Commissions Officers Association, Vietnam Veterans of America and other Veterans advocates and supporters.

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