Big Increases In College Aid For U.S. Veterans

Abstract: Veterans will see dramatic increases in their GI benefits through legislation signed by President Bush yesterday. A $162 billion supplemental spending bill (H.R. 2642) to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan included a host of new benefits for GIs. The bill contains all of the provisions contained in S. 22, a bill authored by Marine Corp. veteran Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) last year. The new law increases educational benefits available to members of the military who have served on active duty since September 11, 2001, including reservists and members of the National Guard. Benefit amounts would be based on the amount of time a veteran had served in the military since 9/11. The benefits would be payable for 36 months, the equivalent of four years of college, and would be available for up to 15 years after a veteran leaves active duty.

The full article was originally published in NASFAA’s Today’s News on 7/1/08.