WASHINGTON (June 30, 2008) – In a bipartisan action hailed today by the leader of the nation’s largest veterans organization as “an historic event,” the president today signed legislation that provides $162 billion to carry out military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan into 2009 and establishes a GI Bill that mirrors its 1944 predecessor, cited by many as the greatest piece of social legislation ever enacted.

“This legislation is a tribute to our system of government and those who labored to bring it to fulfillment,” said Marty Conatser, national commander of The American Legion. “What a tremendous way to say ‘Thank you’ to our men and women serving so courageously in uniform. Giving them the resources they need to accomplish their mission while providing them with a true GI Bill for the 21st Century in a single piece of legislation is truly an historic event that will benefit America for years to come.

“We applaud Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi who worked relentlessly to develop consensus with the House, Senate, and Executive Branch to bring this bill to fruition. Thanks in large part to her committed leadership, this momentous piece of legislation, will resonate as a landmark in American history.”

The American Legion wrote the first draft of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, the original GI Bill of Rights that changed the course of American history. A generation of heroes was able to join the middle class, achieve home ownership, earn higher education and live the American dream.

The new bill provides servicemembers who served in the military for at least three years full tuition at any in-state public university along with a monthly housing stipend. Benefits can also be used at private schools.

Besides providing equality among active-duty, National Guard and Reserve members by adjusting the benefit scale base on cumulative active service, this bill eliminates the need for each servicemember to pay $1200 to buy into the benefit. Those who have paid into the current GI Bill will not receive a refund but will receive enhanced benefits. Everyone on active duty will receive the benefit from this point forward at no cost.

“Legionnaires are especially grateful to Sen. Jim Webb for authoring the Post-9-11 Veterans Education Assistance Act that led to today’s new GI Bill,” Conatser said. “His commitment and resolve to restore the kind of comprehensive educational benefits that our warriors deserve, and earned, never wavered.

“There were many others in Congress that labored to achieve this success, and we particularly salute Sens. Harry Reid, John Warner and Chuck Hagel and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and House Minority Leader John Boehner for their leadership.”

The measure includes a provision that allows veterans to transfer education benefits to their spouses or children. The legislation will provide more than $62 billion over 10 years in college funding for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. It more than doubles the existing benefit from $40,000 today to $90,000.

With a membership of 2.7-million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and patriotic youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.