The full House last week approved the 2008 war supplemental appropriations bill, which now includes the post-9/11 GI bill that targets veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan operations and was introduced by Sen. James Webb (D-Va.). Although Administration and other critics declared the new GI bill too costly, President Bush indicated in a statement June 20 that he would sign the war supplemental legislation and praised the new GI bill effort. Webb acknowledged the White House approval in a statement: The measure has “received meticulous scrutiny and the full support of every major veterans’ organization. It will pay for a veteran’s tuition, books, and a monthly stipend, along the lines of the benefits given to those who returned from World War II. As such, it fulfills the pledge I made on my first day of office to provide today’s veterans with the opportunity to move forward into an absolutely first-class future. … I am looking forward to the President living up to his word.” The Senate already has signed on to the GI bill measure, but it must now vote on the entire bill.
Top Lawmakers Want 15 Percent Pay Raise for Enlisted Troops
April 19, 2024
A new law introduced by Congress would raise the pay rate 15 percent for junior enlisted troops and seek improvements on a range of quality of life issues, such as pay and compensation, child care, housing, health care access, and military spouse employment.