Marking a Milestone in Veterans Benefits

This year we celebrate the 80^th anniversary of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, more commonly known as the GI Bill. This landmark legislation created a pathway for returning troops to further their education, buy homes and launch businesses. The innovative policy remains a significant investment in our servicemembers and serves as an important aspect of the effort to honor the commitment we made to the men and women who wear our nation’s uniform.

It was a groundbreaking idea championed by The American Legion based on feedback from veterans aimed at ensuring those returning from service in WWII had the support they needed as they transitioned back to civilian life by providing funds for college, housing and unemployment insurance. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the measure into law June 22, 1944.

The law helped usher in prosperity during the post war era. Within the first seven years of implementation, eight million veterans received education benefits, more than doubling the number of college degrees awarded between 1940 to 1950.

The GI Bill has become fundamental to helping those who have been called to serve this country.

Arkansas veterans have shared how valuable their GI Bill benefits were to prepare them for a successful future. In interviews for the Veterans History Project, a collection of oral histories housed in the Library of Congress, WWII veteran Lieutenant Colonel William Ledbetter said he used his benefits for college at the University of Central Arkansas where he earned a degree in social studies and minored in physical education. Edith Mitchell served in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps in WWII and, following her military service, earned a master’s degree in voice and public music from Columbia University. Vietnam veteran Master Sergeant Parnell Fisher completed his bachelor’s degree in education from Arkansas Baptist College with his GI bill benefits.

As a member of Veterans’ Affairs Committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives, I’ve supported legislation to modernize and update the GI Bill in order to better meet the needs of this generation’s former servicemembers.

In 2008, Congress passed the post-9/11 GI Bill and nine years later followed that up with the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, named after an Army Air Service veteran and former national commander of the American Legion. Known as the Forever GI Bill, it reflects the changing landscape of learning and expands authority for veterans to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs.

The bill enhanced educational benefits and eliminated the 15-year limitation on post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for eligible veterans and their dependents. It also included a reform I advocated to ensure wounded members of the National Guard and Reserve are eligible for the same GI Bill benefits as active-duty military members.

We closely followed its implementation and when the Department of Veterans Affairs failed to reimburse veterans for missed or underpaid Forever GI Bill housing benefits, I worked to correct this error.

These are all earned benefits, not hand-outs. Since they were enacted, they have changed lives and helped incentivize voluntary service in our Armed Forces.

This milestone is a good time to reflect on the tremendous sacrifice of the brave individuals willing to stand in defense of our country. We are forever grateful to the men and women who wear our nation’s uniform and the GI Bill continues to demonstrate our appreciation for their service.