FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, February 28, 2008 CONTACT: Kara Horowitz, IAVA (212) 982-9699 or
Major Victory in the Fight
for New GI Bill: Reintroduced on Senate Floor Senators Webb, Hagel, Lautenberg and Warner Introduce Improved Version
of S.22
NEW YORK -Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's
first and largest nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan, applauds today's introduction of an improved version of
the"Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act," or S.22, on the
Senate floor. A bipartisan coalition of Senators including Jim Webb
(D-VA), Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) reintroduced the bill. They
also announced Senator John Warner (R-VA) as one of four lead co-sponsors of
the legislation. Senator Warner is a World War II and Korean War veteran and
beneficiary of the original GI bill. He joins 32 other Senators in support
of S.22. The House companion bill (H.R. 2702) was introduced by Rep. Bobby
Scott (D-VA) and currently has 96 cosponsors.
"Our country's newest generation of veterans deserves a World
War II-style GI Bill, and today's reintroduction of S.22 is a major step toward
achieving that," said Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of Iraq
and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). "IAVA is grateful to
Senators Webb, Hagel, Lautenberg and Warner, themselves combat veterans and GI
Bill beneficiaries, for their leadership on this critical issue. We've seen
great momentum behind a new GI Bill, and we urge Congress to act quickly to
pass this crucial legislation this year."
To download IAVA's new in-depth report on the GI Bill and
corresponding Quick Facts, please visit www.iava.org/newgibill .
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is the nation's first and
largest group for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A
non-profit and nonpartisan organization, IAVA represents more than 80,000
veteran members and civilian supporters in all 50 states. To arrange an
interview with Paul Rieckhoff or an IAVA veteran who can discuss the GI Bill
from first hand experience, please contact Kara Horowitz at (212) 982-9699, or
email
.
Click here to see who has signed onto the new GI Bill.
