Harry Mitchell cheers Senate action on GI Bill
May 22nd, 2008, 5:42 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Paul Giblin
Harry Mitchell, right
Rep. Harry Mitchell’s staff dashed off a press release Thursday noting that the Senate “overwhelmingly” approved the 21st Century GI Bill, which is designed to provide military veterans with expanded educational benefits ranging from college tuition to living stipends.
Mitchell wouldn’t usually publically trumpet a Senate vote, but the new GI Bill is his bill. As his district director and former newspaperman Robbie Sherwood wrote in the press release…
This historic measure – whose chief sponsor in the House is U.S. Rep. Harry E. Mitchell – cleared the Senate by a veto-proof 75-22 margin as an amendment to the FY 2008 Supplemental Appropriations Bill for war funding.
“As we head into the Memorial Day weekend, this is really the best news that we could be delivering to our military personnel and veterans,” Mitchell said. “We have the opportunity and obligation as a nation to strengthen our commitment to those who have served in combat. These education benefits will not only help military recruitment, but will strengthen our economy at a time when it needs it the most.”
The measure previously passed the House on May 15, 2008 by a bipartisan vote of 256 to 166. The bill now heads to a House-Senate Conference Committee to work out differences in the bill in a conference committee.
The House would have to provide at least 291 votes to counteract a threatened White House veto, but the bill currently has 300 cosponsors. Mitchell said he is confident that House and Senate conferees would reach an agreement soon and it would earn strong support when it returns to the House for final approval.
The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act extends educational benefits to all members of the military who have served on active duty since September 11, 2001, including activated reservists and National Guard.
Among those who oppose the bill is Republican Sen. and Vietnam War hero John McCain, who argues that the educational benefits are so good that troops might opt out of military service early to cash in on them. McCain prefers a tiered benefits system that would delay Mitchell-style full-benefits packages for men and women who serve longer hitches in the military.
Either way, the bill is certain to become a campaign issue. Mitchell, a Democrat, represents Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, which takes in Scottsdale, Tempe, Fountain Hills, Ahwatukee Foothills and west Mesa.
