Rocky C
06-23-10, 03:01 PM
More Than $3.6 Billion in Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits Issued
WASHINGTON (June 23, 2009) - On the 66th anniversary of signing the GI
Bill into law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it has
issued more than $3.6 billion in the bill's newest manifestation, the
Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Benefit payments under the bill, implemented last year, have gone to
more than 285,000 people and their educational institutions.
On June 22, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the
Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the GI Bill of
Rights.
The Veterans Administration - as it was known at that time -- was
responsible for carrying out the law's key provisions for education and
training, loan guaranty for homes, farms or businesses, and unemployment
pay.
Before the World War II, college and homeownership were, for the most
part, unreachable dreams for the average American. Thanks to the GI
Bill, millions who would have flooded the job market opted for education
instead.
In the peak year of 1947, Veterans accounted for 49 percent of college
admissions. By the time the original GI Bill ended, July 25, 1956, 7.8
million of the 16 million World War II Veterans had participated in an
education or training program.
In 1984, former Mississippi congressman G. V. "Sonny" Montgomery
revamped the GI Bill. The Montgomery GI Bill assured that VA home loan
guaranty and education programs continued to work for Veterans of the
post-Vietnam era.
In 2009, GI Bill benefits were updated again. The new law gave Veterans
with active duty service on, or after, Sept. 11 2001, enhanced
educational benefits to cover more expenses, provide a living allowance,
money for books and the ability to transfer unused educational benefits
to spouses or children.
For more information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill for Veterans, visit
http://www.gibill.va.gov/ (http://www.gibill.va.gov/).
WASHINGTON (June 23, 2009) - On the 66th anniversary of signing the GI
Bill into law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it has
issued more than $3.6 billion in the bill's newest manifestation, the
Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Benefit payments under the bill, implemented last year, have gone to
more than 285,000 people and their educational institutions.
On June 22, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the
Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the GI Bill of
Rights.
The Veterans Administration - as it was known at that time -- was
responsible for carrying out the law's key provisions for education and
training, loan guaranty for homes, farms or businesses, and unemployment
pay.
Before the World War II, college and homeownership were, for the most
part, unreachable dreams for the average American. Thanks to the GI
Bill, millions who would have flooded the job market opted for education
instead.
In the peak year of 1947, Veterans accounted for 49 percent of college
admissions. By the time the original GI Bill ended, July 25, 1956, 7.8
million of the 16 million World War II Veterans had participated in an
education or training program.
In 1984, former Mississippi congressman G. V. "Sonny" Montgomery
revamped the GI Bill. The Montgomery GI Bill assured that VA home loan
guaranty and education programs continued to work for Veterans of the
post-Vietnam era.
In 2009, GI Bill benefits were updated again. The new law gave Veterans
with active duty service on, or after, Sept. 11 2001, enhanced
educational benefits to cover more expenses, provide a living allowance,
money for books and the ability to transfer unused educational benefits
to spouses or children.
For more information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill for Veterans, visit
http://www.gibill.va.gov/ (http://www.gibill.va.gov/).