Chet Edwards For Congress

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Waco Trib: Time for new GI Bill

Waco Tribune
By Perry Jefferies, guest column

FORT HOOD — If you followed the congressional testimony by Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, you probably noticed that nearly every question and answer began with a paean to the troops and the marvelous job they do every day.

As a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, a former member of the Texas National Guard and a U.S. Army retiree, I appreciate those words.

But drowned out by this singing of praises is a much-needed discussion of how to support troops when they come home.

Though it did not receive much attention, a bipartisan group of 196 representatives, including long-time veterans’ advocate Congressman Chet Edwards, introduced a new GI Bill.

Modeled on the World War II bill that put 2.2 million combat veterans through college, it would make college affordable to all veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Today’s Montgomery GI Bill is only a shadow of the benefit given to veterans of World War II. Current educational benefits cover only 60 to 70 percent of the average cost of four years at a public college or university and pay for less than half of the cost of tuition at a private institution.

National Guardsmen and Reservists — including those who have served multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan — receive a fraction of these meager benefits.

It’s no wonder that 90 percent of veterans start their education at community colleges, compared to less than half of college students as a whole.

Right now, 18 percent of newly returned veterans are unemployed — three times the national average. More than a thousand Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have already shown up in the nation’s homeless shelters.

With some troops in Iraq on their third, fourth, and even fifth tours, it’s time to enact the same readjustment tool for the latest “Greatest Generation.”

The New GI Bill, S.22/H.R.5740, would substantially increase educational benefits and provide veterans with a living stipend.

This would allow our veterans to go to school without taking out massive loans or having to sleep on Mama’s couch.

The bill would also establish fair benefits for our National Guardsmen and Reservists and help rebuild our struggling economy.

Every dollar invested in educational benefits for WWII veterans added seven dollars to the national economy. That’s a stimulus package the nation can use right now.

As a Texas veteran, I also see the strain that five years of war in Iraq have put on our military and enlistment levels.

The Pentagon has responded with lower enlistment standards. The military enlisted 25 percent fewer “high-quality” recruits in 2007 than in 2004. In 2007, only 79 percent of new Army enlistees had a high-school diploma.

The maximum age for a new recruit has been raised to 42 from 35.

And the percentage of Army recruits receiving waivers for criminal convictions has risen to 12 percent.

The New GI Bill would be a better recruiting tool for motivated troops and their families than a waiver for felony convictions.

Here at Fort Hood, the 1st Cavalry Division just had its welcome home.

The troops assigned to that unit have already been given their next departure date.

As we ask these brave men and women to make yet another sacrifice, now is the time to get this bill passed.

In the next few weeks, lawmakers will wrangle over the emergency supplemental spending bill. One provision they must include is a new GI Bill. Educating our nation’s veterans is a cost of war, and a GI Bill that properly rewards our troops for their service and their sacrifices is not only in our nation’s best interest, but it’s also the right thing to do.

Perry Jefferies, a native Wacoan and now resident of Copperas Cove, began his military career with the Texas National Guard and retired in 2004 after 25 years of military service. Jefferies is a founding member of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Every dollar invested in educational benefits for WWII veterans added seven dollars to the national economy. That’s a stimulus package the nation can use right now.