CLYBURN, MOULTON REINTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE BLACK WWII VETERANS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS WITH LONG OVERDUE G.I. BILL BENEFITS

Statement

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the G.I. Bill into law in 1944. This landmark legislation represented a promise to all who fought for our country that their sacrifice would be rewarded with a range of benefits, including low-cost mortgages and low-interest loans to start a business or farm, unemployment compensation, and education assistance.

In practice, this opportunity for prosperity was denied to Black World War II veterans and their descendants. Today, Congressmen James E. Clyburn (SC-06) and Seth Moulton (MA-06) are seeking to right this generational wrong with the reintroduction of the Sgt. Issac Woodard, Jr. and Sgt. Joseph H. Maddox G.I. Bill Restoration Act. The Congressmen previously introduced this legislation in the 117th Congress.

"The quickest ways to overcome poverty in this country are through education and homeownership. The denial of these benefits to Black veterans returning home from service has impacted the accumulation of generational wealth for Black families across the country," said Congressman Clyburn. "We must restore the possibility of full economic mobility and the promise of the original G.I. Bill to all impacted by these discriminatory federal practices. This legislation will honor that commitment."

"We all know the GI Bill lifted up a generation of WWII veterans and built the American century. It's been called the most successful piece of legislation ever. But most Americans don't know that many Black veterans were left out: denied benefits, denied homes, denied the generational wealth that comes from going to college," said Congressman Moulton. "We can never fully repay those American heroes. But we can fix this going forward for their families. While our generation didn't commit this wrong, we should be committed to making it right. This legislation honors our nation's commitment to America's vets."

Source