Braley Begins Student Veterans Listening Tour Across Eastern Iowa

Press Release

Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today began a week-long tour of Iowa colleges and universities to meet with local student veterans and listen to their comments on the unique challenges of being a student veteran and their assessment of the GI Bill and VA student veteran support services.

Braley held his first two listening sessions in Clinton at Clinton Community College and at Scott Community College in Bettendorf, both at the invitation of Eastern Iowa Community College Vice President for External Affairs Gary Mohr.

"Five years ago, the post-9/11 GI Bill was signed into law to provide new educational opportunities and benefits for America's returning veterans.

"It's important to recognize that student veterans face unique challenges. As Veterans Day approaches, I'm traveling across Iowa to meet face-to-face with student veterans and assess their needs. We owe it to Iowa's student veterans to make sure they have every tool they need to succeed in college so they can seize opportunities, get good-paying jobs, and adjust to civilian life."

The series of listening sessions will allow Braley to hear directly from students about the resources they need to be successful in college and the help they need to prepare for employment and civilian life after graduation.

Many student veterans find themselves navigating bureaucratic red tape when they leave the military and begin the process of applying for, and subsequently receiving, veterans' benefit like those from the GI Bill or disability claims. By assessing their needs, Braley will be better able to work for solutions and provide assistance to these student veterans.

Braley has long been a champion on veterans' issues. Last month, Braley called on Speaker John Boehner to pass legislation that protects veterans and ensures they continue to receive the benefits they've earned in the event of another government shutdown. By making sure Congress fully funds the Department of Veterans Affairs a year ahead of schedule veterans' benefits, like those from the GI Bill and disability claims, and all other VA services would not be interrupted in the event of another government shutdown.

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