Something We All Agree On + Action Alert!

Whether you’re a supporter of Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama - you know or should know that both candidates are rightfully supporters and co-sponsors of the New GI Bill of Rights.  As Democrats, we have a tradition of caring for our veterans. And despite good intentions - at times we have have fallen woefully short in our promises to those that have served. And if we need to point out another glaring difference between our two candidates (Besides both of our candidates ‘getting’ what needs to be done in Iraq) and Sen. John McCain - is that McCain is opposed to the New GI Bill of Rights. We’re nine votes short in the senate and McCain needs to be seriously called out on this.

Sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb, (And Sen. Chuck Hagel) with 51 co sponsors.

I am a Hillary supporter but this is something that we as Americans, regardless of whom we support should agree upon. Keeping our promises to our veterans.

From Thomas
Title: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a program of educational assistance for members of the Armed Forces who serve in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 1/4/2007)      Cosponsors (51)
Related Bills: H.R.2702
Latest Major Action: 7/31/2007 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held.

There is a petition to demand McCain support the New GI Bill of Rights - and to rightfully call him on this. Right now there’s over 20k signatures - please consider adding yours. (Check out the collaboration between Wes Clark, Robert Greenwald and VoteVets on the video.)

This is from Wes Clark

Robert Lopez served 8 years in our military, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan as a tank commander. He was told he’d get his whole education bill paid for when he got out of the service. Mr. Lopez has fought and sacrificed for our country but like so many others, Mr. Lopez has faced the bleak reality of a government that has turned its back on its veterans.

That is why Senators Jim Webb and Chuck Hagel proposed the new GI Bill, which would bring back WWII-style standards of providing vets with full tuition, room and board. And that is why 51 senators have signed on, including 9 Republicans like John Warner, giving this GI Bill tremendous bi-partisan support.

But it isn’t enough. Faced with unprecedented filibusters, the only way to ensure Senate passage of the GI Bill is to get 60 co-sponsors. So far, John McCain has refused. The same McCain who insists he supports our troops. The same McCain who is voting lockstep with the Bush administration (who have also resisted this bill). We need to get John McCain to do the right thing — to sign now and signal to other Republican leaders that we should be strongly behind our vets.

Wes Clark

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Matters such as this that remind me we are Democrats - and there are vast differences between us and the Republicans.
Send a strong message to McCain, the WH and the Republican Party.
We support our veterans and stand united as Americans.
And for those that support Barack or Hillary - we should feel proud that they believe in and support the promises FDR gave to our veterans so many years ago. Oh yeah, the Republicans tried to stall it then, too.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Statement
on Signing the G.I. Bill
June 22, 1944

This bill, which I have signed today,
substantially carries out most of the recommendations made by me in a
speech on July 28, 1943, and more
specifically in messages to the
Congress dated October 27, 1943,
and November 23, 1943:

1. It gives servicemen and women the opportunity of resuming their education or technical training after discharge, or of taking a refresher or retrainer course, not only without tuition charge up to $500 per school year, but with the right to receive a monthly living allowance while pursuing their studies.

2. It makes provision for the guarantee by the Federal Government of not to exceed 50 percent of certain loans made to veterans for the purchase or construction of homes, farms, and business properties.

3. It provides for reasonable unemployment allowances payable each week up to a maximum period of one year, to those veterans who are unable to find a job.

4. It establishes improved machinery for effective job counseling for veterans and for finding jobs for returning soldiers and sailors.

5. It authorizes the construction of all necessary additional hospital facilities.

6. It strengthens the authority of the Veterans Administration to enable it to discharge its existing and added responsibilities with promptness and efficiency.

With the signing of this bill a well-rounded program of special veterans’ benefits is nearly completed. It gives emphatic notice to the men and women in our armed forces that the American people do not intend to let them down.

By prior legislation, the Federal Government has already provided for the armed forces of this war: adequate dependency allowances; mustering-out pay; generous hospitalization, medical care, and vocational rehabilitation and training; liberal pensions in case of death or disability in military service; substantial war risk life insurance, and guaranty of premiums on commercial policies during service; protection of civil rights and suspension of enforcement of certain civil liabilities during service; emergency maternal care for wives of enlisted men; and reemployment rights for returning veterans.

This bill therefore and the former legislation provide the special benefits which are due to the members of our armed forces — for they “have been compelled to make greater economic sacrifice and every other kind of sacrifice than the rest of us, and are entitled to definite action to help take care of their special problems.” While further study and experience may suggest some changes and improvements, the Congress is to be congratulated on the prompt action it has taken.