GI Bill of Rights

Floor Speech

GI BILL OF RIGHTS -- (Senate - May 20, 2008)

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, earlier today, on the floor of the Senate, we heard distinguished colleagues from both sides of the aisle supporting an effort that we pass a new GI bill of rights for the 21st century.

We heard the distinguished junior Senator from Virginia, JIM WEBB, who with his own hand, took it upon himself to author a piece of legislation that would make sure we as a nation kept our promises to those who have served since 9/11 by providing them the kind of educational opportunity that was provided to those who served in World War II.

In that effort, as I presided over this Senate floor, I heard the very eloquent comments of Senator CHUCK HAGEL, himself a great servant of this country and a great Senator, in support of the legislation by Senator Webb. During the same time, we heard the comments from Senator Warner, one of the most eloquent and distinguished Members to ever serve in the Senate.

So I come to the floor today to once again say all of the sponsors of that legislation send a loud and unmistakable signal to everyone who has a say in this emergency supplemental that at the end of the day we must make sure this 21st century GI bill of rights is one that is included in this emergency supplemental that deals with Iraq and Afghanistan so that we, in fact, can honor our veterans who have served since 9/11.

We can do no less as a nation. We can do no less when we think about the great sacrifice of the now 1.6 million men and women who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

When we think about those who have served, we must first stop and pay tribute and honor to those who have given their lives as the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their country, as well as those who have been wounded and hurt in those wars.

In Iraq, the current number I have as of today, 4,078 Americans have been killed in that war--a war that is now in its sixth year.

When the invasion occurred, there were predictions at the top of the Pentagon that this war would, at most, take 50 American lives. Somehow now we have surpassed the 4,000 number with 4,078 of our bravest men and women who have given their lives in Iraq.

It does not count the number of others who have been scarred either physically or mentally in that war as well. Those who have been wounded with physical scars, according to the current numbers we have from the Department of Defense, now exceeds 30,000 of our best.

For many of us in the Senate, as we have gone to Walter Reed or to other hospitals of the Department of Defense or veterans hospitals, we see the reality of what has happened to many of those who have come back without limbs and with other kinds of injuries that will stay with them the rest of their lives.

We do not have a firm count with respect to the other 1.6 million who have served there as to how many of them have suffered the mental scars of war. We know there are some estimates that it is as high as 20, 25 percent of them who will suffer from some form of post-traumatic stress syndrome.

So the number we are talking about who have borne the burden of this war in Iraq, as well as the war in Afghanistan, is a number we should never forget. It is not just in Iraq but also in Afghanistan. We now have a casualty list which includes 497 Americans. We have about 2,000 who have been physically wounded and many more who suffer the mental scars of war.

When I think about what we are trying to do with this 21st century GI bill of rights for those who have served since 9/11, the thing I find most objectionable is that some of those on the other side and others who would oppose this legislation say it is too costly, that we ought not to undertake it because it is too costly.

In the context of what we have spent in Iraq and will be spending in Iraq, it is a very small amount of money to make sure we are taking care of our veterans once they return home. In Iraq, the total number, as of today, that has been spent on that war is $525 billion--$525 billion. Secretary Rumsfeld, at one point in time, said no way, no how will we ever spend $50 billion on this war. Yet somehow, today, some 6 years later, it is $525 billion plus that has been spent on the war.

When you consider the expenditures the United States is projected to make to bring this war to conclusion, some estimates out there are $3 trillion--$3 trillion--what we are trying to do with this 21st century GI bill of rights is simply to provide an opportunity for those who have served since 9/11 to get an opportunity for an education at a cost that would be $2.5 billion to $4 billion a year.

When we consider the fact we are burning $12 billion a month in Iraq today, to provide this benefit to our veterans at a cost of $2.5 billion to $4 billion a year is a very worthy investment, and in the relative context of how much is being invested in that war effort, it is a very small amount.

I would hope at the end of the day it is not only 60 Senators who vote yes to include this 21st century GI bill of rights in this emergency supplemental, but that we could get a unanimous approval out of this Senate that this is the thing we should do because it is the right thing to make sure we are taking care of those who have served us since 9/11.

Again, I appreciate the great leadership of our good friend, JIM WEBB, who has worked so hard to bring together so many cosponsors of this legislation both here in the Senate, as well as the House of Representatives. I urge my colleagues to fully support this legislation as it moves forward.

I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

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