Rep. Courtney: New GI Bill is the Very Least We Can Do for Those Who Put Life on Hold to Serve

Press Release

Congressman Courtney welcomed news today that President George Bush signed into law an expansion of the GI Bill of Rights that better meets the educational needs of returning U.S. troops currently serving in combat. Earlier in the year, the President had threatened to veto the legislation, essentially calling it too generous. The Administration stated that it was "concerned that because of the high benefit for limited service included in this bill, it could harm retention rates within the armed forces." The Congressional Budget Office refuted that claim.

"Our returning troops deserve this updated GI Bill because they have so courageously put their lives on hold to serve in our Armed Forces," stated Courtney. "This is really the least we can do to repay them for their commitment to serve and to prepare them for a life after the military. I am proud to have supported this bill as it does right by our troops, and right by our economy."

Since 2001, more than 12,000 troops from Connecticut have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Unfortunately, current benefits only pay about 70 percent of a public college education and 30 percent of a private college education for these veterans when they return home. The expanded GI Bill will restore full, four-year college scholarships to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to help make them part of an economic recovery like the veterans of World War II. Congressman Courtney was an original cosponsor of the new GI Bill, H.R. 5740, when it was introduced in the House earlier this year.

The original GI Bill set the American economy on the right course after a draining war. More than 15 million war veterans were eligible for the benefit after World War II, and by 1956, about 8 million World War II veterans took advantage of the GI Bill education and job training. It is estimated that for every dollar spent on the original 1944 GI Bill, the economy benefitted seven-fold.

This updated GI Bill restores funding for the education program to the same level that previous generations of servicemen and women had.

"Our troops will face many challenges when they return home, but the one obstacle they should not be asked to endure is securing access to a good education to help put them back on track," added Courtney.

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