Letter to James Mattis, Secretary of Defense - Courtney Leads Bipartisan Effort Opposing New Restrictions On Post-9/11 GI Bill Education Benefits
Letter
Dear Secretary Mattis:
As Members of the House of Representatives committed to ensuring that our government honors its promises to our military personnel and to our veterans, we write to you in strong opposition to the July 12 revision of Department of Defense Instruction 1341.13, which would prevent service members with greater than 16 years of credible service from transferring their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to eligible family members.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill, passed a decade ago, built on a 64-year legacy of American commitment to our veterans that their government will provide to them an education and greater opportunity in recognition of their sacrifice in a time of war. These educational opportunities have changed the social and economic fabric of the United States. On behalf of a grateful nation, it is our collective duty and responsibility to uphold the hard-earned benefits of our nation's active-duty service members and veterans, and to remain faithful stewards of the GI Bill's educational assistance program.
Revoking transferability benefits breaks this commitment with our most dedicated and seasoned service members. As the Global War on Terror continues, and revisionist competitors seek to challenge the United States in new domains, it remains critically important to attract and retain the best-qualified individuals for military service. Eliminating the ability to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to family members after honorably completing 16 years of service sends a exactly the wrong message to those who have chosen the military as their long-term career, and sets a dangerous precedent for the removal of other critical benefits as members approach military retirement. Educational benefits should be maintained after proving oneself through years of devoted and continuing military service -- not removed after the 16-year mark.
Once a service member meets the requirements for transferring Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to an eligible family member, we must uphold our end of the commitment. This change in policy is unacceptable, and we call upon you to swiftly reverse this decision.
Sincerely,
REP. JOE COURTNEY
REP. PETE AGUILAR
REP. KAREN BASS
REP. DONALD S. BEYER JR.
REP. MIKE BISHOP
REP. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO
REP. SUSAN W. BROOKS
REP. ANTHONY G. BROWN
REP. JULIA BROWNLEY
REP. SALUD O. CARBAJAL
REP. ANDRÉ CARSON
REP. MATT CARTWRIGHT
REP. DAVID N. CICILLINE
REP. J. LUIS CORREA
REP. HENRY CUELLAR
REP. SUSAN A. DAVIS
REP. PETER A. DEFAZIO
REP. ROSA L. DELAURO
REP. MARK DESAULNIER
REP. ADRIANO ESPAILLAT
REP. ELIZABETH H. ESTY
REP. BILL FOSTER
REP. TULSI GABBARD
REP. RUBEN GALLEGO
REP. JOHN GARAMENDI
REP. JOSH GOTTHEIMER
REP. AL GREEN
REP. COLLEEN HANABUSA
REP. ALCEE L. HASTINGS
REP. BRIAN HIGGINS
REP. JIM HIMES
REP. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON
REP. DUNCAN HUNTER
REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL
REP. HAKEEM S. JEFFRIES
REP. HENRY C. "HANK" JOHNSON JR.
REP. WALTER B. JONES
REP. WILLIAM R. KEATING
REP. RUBEN J. KIHUEN
REP. DANIEL T. KILDEE
REP. DEREK KILMER
REP. ANN MCLANE KUSTER
REP. CONOR LAMB
REP. DOUG LAMBORN
REP. RICK LARSEN
REP. JOHN B. LARSON
REP. DANIEL W. LIPINSKI
REP. DAVID LOEBSACK
REP. ZOE LOFGREN
REP. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY
REP. BETTY MCCOLLUM
REP. A. DONALD MCEACHIN
REP. JAMES P. MCGOVERN
REP. GREGORY W. MEEKS
REP. SETH MOULTON
REP. DONALD NORCROSS
REP. TOM O'HALLERAN
REP. FRANK PALLONE JR.
REP. JIMMY PANETTA
REP. DONALD M. PAYNE, JR.
REP. ED PERLMUTTER
REP. KATHLEEN M. RICE
REP. JACKY ROSEN
REP. KEITH J. ROTHFUS
REP. C. A. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER
REP. BOBBY L. RUSH
REP. TIM RYAN
REP. JAN SCHAKOWSKY
REP. DAVID SCOTT
REP. ROBERT C. "BOBBY" SCOTT
REP. CAROL SHEA-PORTER
REP. ALBIO SIRES
REP. JACKIE SPEIER
REP. THOMAS R. SUOZZI
REP. MARK TAKANO
REP. DINA TITUS
REP. PAUL TONKO
REP. NIKI TSONGAS
REP. NYDIA M. VELÁZQUEZ
REP. TIMOTHY J. WALZ
REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ
REP. PETER WELCH
REP. JOHN A. YARMUTH
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