Porter Supports Expanded GI Benefits for Guard and Reserve Members
April 11, 2008
Washington, DC- Congressman Jon Porter today announced his support of H.R. 5740, the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act, or the new GI Bill. This legislation updates and expands the original Montgomery GI Bill to include increased benefits for Reserve and Guard members, as well as bring overall benefits up to date. The bill was filed this week with 170 bipartisan House Members as original co-sponsors. H.R. 5740 is companion legislation to S. 22 in the Senate, a bipartisan bill introduced by Sens. Jim Webb and John Warner, both of Virginia.
“It is past due to provide our brave men and women in uniform with the same opportunities and benefits we offered prior generations,” said Porter. “The benefits in this legislation are crucial to a service member’s readjustment to civilian life.”
The original Montgomery GI Bill, designed to help World War II veterans receive educational benefits upon their return home from war, has been modified many times over the past sixty years. However, the GI Bill does not adequately support those members of the Reserves and National Guard who make up a greater percentage of America’s Armed Forces today than in the past. The new GI Bill that Porter co-sponsored will bring educational benefits for our service members into the 21st Century.
“In keeping with the spirit of the original World War II GI Bill, this improved bipartisan legislation will give a new generation of veterans the educational benefits similar to what the ‘greatest generation’ received.”
With a significant bipartisan segment of the House cosponsoring the new GI Bill, momentum is clearly behind efforts to provide increased benefits to the brave men and women sent to Iraq and Afghanistan to fight Global War on Terror. H.R. 5740 will help guarantee that when our troops return home from duty that they have the resources available to build a future for themselves and their families.
