Bright Calls For Additional G.I. Benefit Distribution Centers

Press Release

Today, Congressman Bobby Bright called on the Veterans Administration to provide additional locations to distribute Post-9/11 G.I. Bill education benefits. It was recently announced that the VA is experiencing backlogs in reimbursements for education benefits, but would offer emergency payments at regional benefit centers in the meantime. However, the only regional benefit center in Alabama is located in Montgomery, making it difficult for veterans in the Southern part of the district to obtain the benefits they deserve.

"The Post-9/11 G.I. Bill is a historic benefit for our veterans and it needs to be implemented quickly," Bright said. "While I applaud Secretary Skinseki's swift action to resolve the backlog, there must be more done to make it easier for veterans to access these benefits. I urge the VA to provide more benefit centers or send representatives to additional areas so that all veterans will have equal access to their guaranteed scholarship money."

Thousands of veterans across the nation attending college are being forced to take out loans, put off buying textbooks or dig into savings because of delays by the VA in issuing benefit checks. The new GI Bill took effect in August and provides money to cover the costs of attending college for veterans who served in the military after Sept. 11, 2001. Nationwide, more than 277,000 veterans and their eligible relatives applied for assistance but the VA has fallen behind in processing payments.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki recently announced that the VA will make emergency payments, beginning this Friday, of up to $3,000 to students who have applied for educational benefits but haven't received a payment. However, the checks will be distributed only at VA regional benefits offices across the country. The VA Regional Office in Montgomery is where veterans must apply, leaving veterans in Dothan and the Wiregrass a significant trip if they wish to receive their emergency benefits.

Congressman Bright, with the support of Troy University, has proposed bringing a VA representative or satellite office to Troy-Dothan. So far, he has not received a commitment from the Veterans Administration to provide additional benefit centers.

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