Critz Praises Legislation that Strengthens the Post-9/11 GI Bill

Press Release

Congressman Mark S. Critz (PA-12) announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve bipartisan legislation to strengthen the educational benefits of America's veterans and their families.

In June 2008, Congress passed the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the largest investment in veterans' education since World War II - covering the full cost of an undergraduate education at any public university or college in the country and many private schools for our nation's newest generation of veterans.

Today, Congress passed legislation to strengthen the 2008 Bill and make it more equitable by:
· Expanding opportunities for training and education, covering vocational and technical schools, apprenticeships and on the job training that were not previously covered.
· Granting full credit to National Guardsmen, including those called up to respond to national disasters like Hurricane Katrina or the BP oil spill, making more than 130,000 eligible for this education benefit.
· Giving active duty students a book stipend of $1,000 per year, like veterans under the program.
· Providing living allowances for distance learners, like injured veterans forced to take online classes.

"More than 260,000 students are attending colleges and universities right now under the Post-9/11 GI Bill," said Critz. "Today's legislation will strengthen the existing program and allow thousands of our National Guardsmen to be eligible for the educational benefits they rightfully deserve."

The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 passed the House 409-3. It now heads to the President for his signature.

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