Taking Care of our Troops and Their Families

Statement

Taking Care of our Troops and Their Families

As we celebrate the anniversary of our nation's independence, our thoughts should turn to the men and women who every day protect our freedom.

Congress recently, and at long last, fulfilled its responsibilities to our military by passing an emergency spending bill for our troops.

We passed a bill which ensures our Armed Forces receive the support, resources and benefits they need and deserve. Quite frankly, our citizen soldiers have been waiting too long, victims of partisan politics stymieing the process.

After months of delay, Republicans and Democrats were able to work together to produce a bill which does right by our men and women in harm's way.

This was truly must-pass legislation. The Pentagon estimated it has sufficient funds to cover war costs only until early July, possibly for another few months if it transfers from other sources.

This bill will send approximately $161 billion in emergency funds to our men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan through next spring, and it will do so without including provisions forcing our commanders on the ground to adhere to policy restrictions which could endanger the success of their mission.

I am particularly pleased Congress was able to do this without raising taxes on hard-working families struggling during these challenging times. I am also pleased to report $8 billion in wasteful federal spending unrelated to the war effort was removed prior to passage.

This legislation represents a major victory for our troops and their families. The men and women in uniform protecting our nation have made remarkable progress against our enemies, and it is our responsibility to ensure they have opportunities when they return.

Both Republicans and Democrats agree on the need to enhance and modernize GI educational benefits. Veterans currently serving in our Armed Forces will be provided with an educational benefit equal to the highest tuition rate of a public college or university in their state, as well as a monthly stipend for housing.

The bill also establishes a new program in which private educational institutions could make financial contributions toward veterans' tuition, and the federal government would match those contributions. Veterans have 15 years to use this benefit, and National Guardsmen and Reservists will be fully eligible.

Further, this landmark reform will allow veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan to transfer these benefits to their spouses or children.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a person who enters the workforce as a high school graduate and who does not pursue additional education will earn, on average, about $1.4 million dollars in a lifetime, while a bachelor's degree holder will earn nearly $1 million dollars more.

In short, education is becoming increasingly vital to compete, even survive, economically in the modern world.

This bill rightfully gives our military men and women the resources they need to continue their success after they return home and will help them and their families obtain a better education.

Equally important, the measure provides this critical funding without bogging it down with politically motivated language handcuffing our military leaders by politicians in Washington.

We owe these men and women more than we can ever repay, but by providing for their future, we can help them - and their spouses and children - continue their success for many Fourth of Julys to come.

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