We all hear much about"supporting our troops" but that rhetoric falls short when we let them down. The increasing number of Homeless veteransa serious issue that is lethargically being dealt with by the Bush Administration. And nothing pisses me off more than letting those who serve fall between the cracks. One major path to combat homlessness amongst our vets is to provide education. The resources of a college community not only uplift through education, but also provide a support network for those already needing it. It's a reality we Americans too often ignore.
Many of our soldiers get great training and skill that don't always translate outside of the military. But military life experiences combined with advanced education create some of the most exceptional human beings on the planet.
The Reponsible Plan on Iraq proposes bringing back the GI Bill in it's truest form. Providing educational benefits for all military personnel.
Make service to the United States a path up in life; new GI bill
Military service as a path up in life is a powerful recruitment tool, but changes over the past several years have eliminated or greatly reduced availability of the educational benefits once associated with serving. Passage of H.R. 2247: Montgomery GI Bill for Life Act of 2007 and H.R. 2702: Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007 would greatly improve educational access for veterans.
H.R. 2247: Montgomery GI Bill for Life Act of 2007: This legislation extends eligibility for educational benefits so that they don’t expire in the middle of a term, and so that Reservists and National Guard members who are disabled can continue to use them.
H.R. 2702: Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007: To amend title 8, 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.
I feel that any American who serves in our military should be entitled to a quality education, tuition free. It will only make us better as a nation and we all can agree that nothing improves the lives of people better. And we owe it to the good people who protect ours every day.
Our Democratic Challenger George Fearing, with nine other congressional challengers across the country, and is ready to move congress to change. The plan, spearheaded by Washington's 8th District Challenger Darcy Burner, is not just a plan to exit Iraq. It's a plan to change the conceptual paradigms that has bogged down this country in a senseless war and restore America's standing in the world. But as you can see, it's also a plan to change the way we treat our soldiers who serve... and... that's our duty.
All pie in the sky? Read the planfor yourself.
Cross posted at McCranium.org