New GI Bill

From the inbox:

Today, President Obama celebrated the beginning of implementation of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. This bill, through its Yellow Ribbon Programs and partnerships with colleges and universities throughout the nation, will provide our service members with the most generous educational benefits package since the original GI Bill of 1944.

Over 3,400 agreements were received from the 1,100 schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, funds tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate.

A list of Pennsylvania schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program can be found here: http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/YRP/states/pa.htm

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Further, to honor their many sacrifices, the Post 9/11 GI Bill allows for the transferability of unused benefits to eligible career service members’ families. More information on the transferability of unused benefits can be found here: http://www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2009/0409_gibill/

President Obama has directed Secretary Shinseki to create a results-driven, 21st Century VA. Since the signing of this monumental legislation, VA has made meeting the August 1 implementation deadline a top priority. As of July 30th VA has processed over 112,000 claims.

For a local spin, this arrived in the inbox last Friday:

SATURDAY, August 1, 2009, Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th District) will join Holy Family University students and administrators to discuss the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Congressman Murphy will join Dr. Leonard Soroka, Dean of the Holy Family University School of Education, to discuss the benefits the bill provides for returning service men and women. Holy Family University participates actively in the Yellow Ribbon program, which assists veterans in pursuing higher education outside of public state universities. Degree-granting institutions in partnership with the VA will agree to fund the tuition expenses.

Rep. Murphy proudly cosponsored the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which was put in place to establish educational assistance programs to aid veterans who have served since 9/11, specifically those returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan .