Press Release: "Senate Passes Webb-Hagel GI Bill "

The following statement was released today by Senator Hagel's office:

Senate Passes Webb-Hagel GI Bill

May 22nd, 2008 - The United States Senate today passed, by an overwhelming margin of 75-22, the FY08 Emergency Supplemental bill that included the “Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act” sponsored by Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Jim Webb (D-VA). The legislation modernizes educational benefits for members of our Armed Forces who have served since the attacks of September 11, 2001.

“This bill is about giving the men and women of our military the same education benefits that all of America’s veterans have received since WWII. What this bill does is rotate forward the earned benefits into the 21st century so they are relevant to the realities of the cost of education today. We are fulfilling a commitment that we have all made to our veterans. By investing in education we are investing in America’s future and continuing to build a society worthy of the sacrifices of our veterans. This was the right thing to do for our service men and women and their families,” Hagel said.

The Webb-Hagel GI bill modernizes education benefits by funding the full cost of tuition at public universities in each state. It would also pay $1,000 a year for fees and books and provide a housing stipend. The Webb-Hagel GI bill covers any member of the United States military, including active duty National Guard and Reserve components. Like the current GI bill, a service member would qualify for the full benefit after serving at least three years.