Webb tries again with new G.I. Bill
Virginia Sen. Jim Webb is once again pushing the Senate to pass a sweeping bill that could more than double college aid for American veterans who have served on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001.
After Virginia Sen. John Warner, a highly respected member of the Republican caucus, signed on as a co-sponsor Feb. 28, Webb, a Democrat, reintroduced the bill. He had originally proposed on his first day as a senator last year.
"[Warner's] support certainly carries great weight," Webb aide Jessica Smith said. Warner is the former chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Warner served in the Navy during World War II and in the Marines during the Korean War.
Webb originally introduced the bill with support from Sens. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and Chuck Hagel, R-Neb. Both Webb and Hagel served in Vietnam, in the Marines and Army, respectively. Lautenberg served in the Army in Europe during World War II.
Since Warner signed on last month, eight more Republican senators have become co-sponsors. The bill now has the backing of at least 48 co-sponsors from both parties.
Webb's bill is modeled after the G.I. Bill that paid tuition, room and board for 7.8 million World War II veterans between 1945 and 1955. The original bill also included a monthly stipend and an allowance for textbooks. Warner and Lautenberg paid for college with the original G.I. Bill.
The current educational policy for veterans, known as the Montgomery G.I. Bill, caps the total amount that a soldier can receive at $9,600 a year. But with annual costs at many top public universities approaching $20,000, Webb believes that current soldiers deserved more aid.
Under Webb's plan, veterans – including National Guardsmen and reservists who are called up for active duty – would be eligible after three months of active duty service. After serving for 36 months, veterans would qualify for a payment that matches that of the most expensive public university in their home state. That includes tuition, room and board and other associated fees including books.
Under the bill, a Virginia soldier with 36 months of active duty would be eligible for $19,000, the estimated cost of attending the University of Virginia as an in-state student.
Warner, who used the original G.I. Bill to attend Washington and Lee University and UVa law school, is adamant that funding also be available for students who want to attend private colleges like W&L.
A Virginia veteran could use the $19,000 to help pay part of the cost of a W&L education. The bill also says the federal government will match any aid that a private college gives to the student. So if W&L gave the student an additional $5,000 financial aid grant, the government would add $5,000 on top of the $19,000 already contributed.
Each private institution would have to opt in to that provision for it to take effect.
If veterans have fewer than 36 months active duty service, they would receive a pro-rated portion of benefits.
At Virginia Military Institute, Col. Tim Golden said that about 60 cadets receive G.I. Bill assistance. This fall the institute honored 11 cadets who re-enrolled after spending a year deployed abroad.
Golden, who works in VMI's financial aid office, says the current funding is based on the length of a veteran's service and also on the length of any overseas deployments.
He said a student with two years of service, including one year deployed overseas, would probably receive close to the $9,600 maximum. VMI's in-state annual costs are about $16,000; out-of-state students pay about $32,000.
Smith, Webb's aide, said the bill is being discussed by the Veteran's Affairs Committee. She said the bill may be voted out of committee and come before the Senate for a vote, or it may be consolidated into the supplemental defense appropriations bill that the Senate is preparing to discuss.
The supplemental bill provides funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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