As we welcome summer this Memorial Day weekend with beach trips and barbecues, I ask all North Carolinians to take a moment to remember the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice during our nation’s history.
From the cold days of Valley Forge, to the sweltering desserts of Iraq and the treacherous mountains of Afghanistan, our troops have fought on the front lines so that we may live freely.
This Memorial Day, as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq continue, we should also thank the men and women who are currently serving. More than 40,000 troops from North Carolina have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since September 11, 2001.
As our troops return home from these wars, we must provide benefits that reflect the respect they have earned. I am proud that in 2007 Congress approved the largest increase in veterans funding since the Department of Veterans Affairs was created. However, there is still more work to be done.
As the representative of Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base, I am proud to cosponsor the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act, which would update the current Montgomery G.I. Bill to fully cover the cost of a college education for our troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since September 11, 2001. I am pleased that the House passed the bill on May 15, 2008.
This initiative would allow returning service members who have served on active duty in the Armed Forces, National Guard or Reserves since September 11, 2001 to receive education assistance for up to four years, and can be used at any time within 15 years of discharge or release from active duty. The bill would restore full four-year scholarships. The current benefit only covers about 70 percent of a public college education and 30 percent of a private college education.
The original G.I. Bill of Rights was a hugely successful initiative that provided hundreds of thousands of soldiers with new opportunities in education and business following World War II. We owe those same opportunities to the men and women in our armed forces currently serving around the globe. Education is the key to the American dream, and our troops who have sacrificed for our country should be given every opportunity to access a higher education when they leave the service.
In 1944 many groups claimed that the original GI Bill would break the treasury. Instead it turned out to be one of the most successful pieces of domestic legislation we have passed. For every dollar that was spent under the World War II GI bill, seven dollars were generated.
I have always said that education is an investment, not an expenditure. We will receive a return on our investment when our returning veterans are able to enter the workforce with a college education. A strong GI Bill will also help with military recruitment.
Memorial Day is a special holiday where we honor those men and women who have given their lives to their country in military service. As one of the few Members of Congress who has served in the military, I believe we should remember those brave men and women every day. It is an honor to represent the many veterans, troops and their families in the Second Congressional District of North Carolina, and I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful Memorial Day this year.