To: The United States House of Representatives
Post911 GI Bill
Congress should allow retired veterans to transfer their earned 9/11 GI educational benefit to their dependents.
Why is this important?
ubject: Post911 GI bill. The bill has served many active duty members and their dependents well. Unfortunately, the bill falls short of offering the retired veteran the same degree of appreciation. The current version of the bill prohibits veterans from transferring their educational benefit. In part, the law states that the transfer of benefits from individuals eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill to certain family members is allowed if you are currently a member of the Armed Forces (active duty or Selected Reserve) on or after August 1, 2009. This wording effectively eliminates the retiree from making the transfer. In the end, this prohibition is unnecessary and unfair to the veterans who have served and defended this great nation.
This bill is permanently authorized and supported through mandatory funding. And it requires no additional appropriations for a retiree like me to hand the benefit to my child just as a service member.
Recently, I read that the U.S. spent $34 million to build a facility in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan that will never be used. And more than $770 million was spent on aircrafts that the Afghan forces will never fly. Not to mention, the $350 million bridge to nowhere. I could go on giving examples like this. Nevertheless, people can’t understand how we can give so much aid to other countries and balk at allowing vets to transfer their earned benefit. Especially, since additional funds are not required. By allowing this transfer, thousands of our American children will have the opportunity to receive a college education. And without it, many will unnecessarily struggle to attend and even more will not be able to afford it. Who can be against that? All the while being in support of giving billions to other countries to feed and educate their children. The monies from the 3 examples above could have educated more children than what the mind could imagine. So, the questioned asked by all of us is why prohibit it?
Congress modify the Post911 GI bill to read: “Veterans who qualify for the Post911 GI bill is allowed to transfer their educational benefit to their spouse or dependent children”. It is the only and the right thing to do.
This bill is permanently authorized and supported through mandatory funding. And it requires no additional appropriations for a retiree like me to hand the benefit to my child just as a service member.
Recently, I read that the U.S. spent $34 million to build a facility in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan that will never be used. And more than $770 million was spent on aircrafts that the Afghan forces will never fly. Not to mention, the $350 million bridge to nowhere. I could go on giving examples like this. Nevertheless, people can’t understand how we can give so much aid to other countries and balk at allowing vets to transfer their earned benefit. Especially, since additional funds are not required. By allowing this transfer, thousands of our American children will have the opportunity to receive a college education. And without it, many will unnecessarily struggle to attend and even more will not be able to afford it. Who can be against that? All the while being in support of giving billions to other countries to feed and educate their children. The monies from the 3 examples above could have educated more children than what the mind could imagine. So, the questioned asked by all of us is why prohibit it?
Congress modify the Post911 GI bill to read: “Veterans who qualify for the Post911 GI bill is allowed to transfer their educational benefit to their spouse or dependent children”. It is the only and the right thing to do.