Support Our Troops

Back in 1944 when the GI bill was passed, it laid out a list of benefits our veterans would receive as part of their compensation for service to our country. Included was free education. Under that bill millions of returning soldiers were able to get a free education. Today the GI bill provides a MAXIMUM of $9,600 a year for higher education. Last year I paid more than that for childcare for each of my kids. And they didn't need books or the like. The benefits provided for WWII vets under the GI bill were fantastic and certainly well deserved. And the returns to the economy and American families were great.

Senator James Webb (D-VA) has introduced a bill to cover the full cost of college education for veterans. But the DoD has opposed the bill. They argue that increasing education benefits will hurt retention (presumably because once they have qualified, these men and women would leave the military to go to college).

The bill S. 22, has 50 cosponsors - both Republicans and Democrats - many of whom used the GI bill to get their education. The bill is estimated to cost $2 billion. Yes, that is alot of money. But seriously, its like what, a week or so in Iraq? Its truly a shame that we can't get our lawmakers to move a bill like this - that will have a great impact on many American families - and our veterans who deserve no less. 50 cosponsors is HUGE in the Senate. Yet the bill is not moving at all. Shame shame shame