Couric & Co.
April 29, 2008 3:42 PM

A GI Bill For The 21st Century

By
Jill Jackson
Topics
In The News
Jill Jackson is a Capitol Hill field producer for CBS News.
Evan Aanerud is an engineering student with two quarters of classes left at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He is also an Iraq War veteran who served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves.

At a rally today on Capitol Hill, Aanerud told his story and shared his struggles to about 100 veterans gathering to support legislation that would update the Montgomery GI Bill. Aanerud told the crowd that when he started school he received just $282 per month. And one year ago, his benefits completely ran out.

"I was proud of my service, but after putting my life on the line, it would have been nice to get the benefits we expected," Aanerud said.

In the next month, Congress is expected to take on the GI legislation as part of a spending bill that funds the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., sponsored the legislation along with Senator Chuck Hagel, R-Neb. It would reward veterans who've served on active duty at any time since September 11, 2001, with more money for college. And it would expand coverage for soldiers who've served in the National Guard and Reservists like Evan Aanerrud. The benefits would also normally last for a full 36 months and could be used within 15 years of active duty discharge.

Webb, a Vietnam veteran, called on his colleagues at today's rally to back the bill.

"It's time for those of us who've been calling on them to serve again and again, to assist them in providing the most tangible thanks our country can offer and that is a meaningful chance for a first-class future," Webb said.

The bill would also give the Department of Veterans' Affairs primary responsibility implementing the reforms. Currently, distribution of benefits is divided between that agency, the Department of Education and the Department of Defense.

Opponents, like Sen. Lindsey Graham. R-S.C., point to that change as unworkable and say the work would overwhelm the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Graham, along with presidential candidate John McCain, has introduced another bill that would allow veterans to transfer benefits to family members and keep the implementation spread between the three agencies.

Webb's GI bill looks likely to pass at this point. But President Bush reminded Congress in his press conference this morning that any military spending measure exceeding $108 billion will see the veto pen.

Add a Comment
by marinemomsn May 1, 2008 1:25 PM EDT
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America organization has been trying to get the New GI Bill passed and have been asking for support from us Americans. I believe that this is a great organization. They have their website which is www.iava.org. They have been trying to help out our troops.
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by bsbennett2 May 1, 2008 10:06 AM EDT
Is there any idea of when this Bill is projected to be passed? What about the people that have already used their GI Bill or have used up half of it?
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by caress6 April 30, 2008 1:25 PM EDT
After WWII 8 mill. vets used the new GI Bill. For ever dollar spent the U.S. was rewarded with $8 to $12 in additional income tax over these vets lifetime do to increased incomes. We owe this to our young people who have agreed to make the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we have enjoyed. Having spent 38 years in the military and now working in a university I have seen firt hand what an education can do to improve a vets life. McCain needs to get onboard to pass a GOOD comprehensive education bill for our vets.
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by bookqueen_ga April 30, 2008 1:06 PM EDT
This is nothing new with the military and the government. Retired senators and congressmen have more benefits than do retired military. We have to pay for medical benefits when we were promised free medical benefits for life after my husband retired. We get no vision or dental. We have to pay for those too. Yet the congressmen, most of whom NEVER served in the military, get them free for life. Does anyone else see what''s wrong with this picture?
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by bmwr1150gs April 30, 2008 1:09 AM EDT
I served between 1973-77 and enjoyed the G.I. Bill and tuition costs of $4.00/semester hr at UT Austin. Now, my daughter who is at George Washington U. must pay $54,000/yr. to attend. We make too much income to qualify for assistance so she will be strapped with 110K in loans-her choice. Even a state school is way more than it was. Why are college costs so high? We should provide free college to any wartime vet who qualifies academically. This would be money well spent as it was after WWII and Korea to the returning vets who attended college and made this country strong enough to put a man on the Moon. We need to invest in these young people who have a devotion to country to help rebuild our infrastructure and provide for themselves and their families.
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