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President Signs New GI Bill
On June 30, President George W. Bush signed the new GI Bill into law. The bill received overwhelming, bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, passing 416-12 and the Senate, passing 92-6. The new bill provides all service members, who served on active duty for at least three years, (including at least 30 consecutive days, since Sept. 11, 2001, or who served for less time and received discharge or release under honorable conditions) full tuition at any in-state public university. It also provides a monthly housing allowance, a yearly $1,000 stipend for books and equipment, and eliminates the $1,200 fee that each service member had to pay in order to receive education benefits.
Another measure within the new GI Bill allows veterans to transfer education benefits to family members. For the first time, that benefit may be transferable, under certain conditions, to a service member's immediate family members if the service member opts out. The revised GI Bill also provides a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits for discharged service members.
The new GI Bill (Chapter 33) or so-called "Post 9/11 GI Bill," boasts the most comprehensive education benefits package since the original GI Bill was signed into law in 1944. This new benefit does not go into effect until August 1, 2009. For a more detailed overview visit Military.com.
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