2008 Woodie Awards
Veterans getting more money for schooling
By: MaryAnn Macedo
Issue date: 5/21/08 Section: News
It was a different time. The draft was still well in effect, promising veterans they would be covered when they finished duty. Such was the story of the veterans of World War II and Vietnam, but what about veterans today, the veterans of the post 9/11 era?
With the new bill going through Congress and positive goings-on on the California State University, Stanislaus campus, life is about to get better for veterans. That includes more than 100 students on this campus.
Joe Velasquez, past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Stanislaus Council, says that veterans today have it harder than during his time in the service.
"When I got out of the service, I was covered," Velasquez says. But now, he says, "times are tough."
With the current budget constraints, the Navy veteran of 14 years says that current soldiers are getting the short end of the stick.
However, if Democratic Virginia Sen. Jim Webb has anything to say about it, post 9/11 soldiers are about to have it a little easier. Webb originally introduced a bill to Congress in January 2007, which he proposed to be a GI Bill like the one seen during World War II.
The Webb Bill would cover tuition for up to four years, matching tuition at the most expensive in-state public school. The average amount across states for this is about $1,900 a month, whereas the current Montgomery GI Bill only covers $1,100. The bill would also include a monthly stipend for living expenses and a feature that would encourage private colleges to make their schools affordable to veterans.
According to Webb's web site, "This is the first time in 22 years of presenting an independent budget to Congress that the participating veterans' organizations have advocated a new, comprehensive GI Bill, as opposed to a mere enhancement."
Webb reintroduced the bill to Congress Feb. 22, 2008, to wide bipartisan support, and has since been trying to compromise plans with Arizona senator and presidential candidate John McCain.
With the new bill going through Congress and positive goings-on on the California State University, Stanislaus campus, life is about to get better for veterans. That includes more than 100 students on this campus.
Joe Velasquez, past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Stanislaus Council, says that veterans today have it harder than during his time in the service.
"When I got out of the service, I was covered," Velasquez says. But now, he says, "times are tough."
With the current budget constraints, the Navy veteran of 14 years says that current soldiers are getting the short end of the stick.
However, if Democratic Virginia Sen. Jim Webb has anything to say about it, post 9/11 soldiers are about to have it a little easier. Webb originally introduced a bill to Congress in January 2007, which he proposed to be a GI Bill like the one seen during World War II.
The Webb Bill would cover tuition for up to four years, matching tuition at the most expensive in-state public school. The average amount across states for this is about $1,900 a month, whereas the current Montgomery GI Bill only covers $1,100. The bill would also include a monthly stipend for living expenses and a feature that would encourage private colleges to make their schools affordable to veterans.
According to Webb's web site, "This is the first time in 22 years of presenting an independent budget to Congress that the participating veterans' organizations have advocated a new, comprehensive GI Bill, as opposed to a mere enhancement."
Webb reintroduced the bill to Congress Feb. 22, 2008, to wide bipartisan support, and has since been trying to compromise plans with Arizona senator and presidential candidate John McCain.
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