House lawmaker favors Senate GI Bill proposal

[unhappycamper]

House lawmaker favors Senate GI Bill proposal
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Apr 24, 2008 13:59:38 EDT

The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman has taken the unusual position of favoring a Senate bill that would improve GI Bill education benefits over a bill prepared by members of his own committee.

On Thursday, one day after the committee’s economic opportunity panel approved a bipartisan GI Bill improvement package, HR 5684, Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., chairman of the full committee, issued a statement praising the Senate GI Bill plan as “the best blueprint for a new system.”

The House bill would increase GI Bill payments to cover the average cost of attending a four-year public college; create a monthly stipend of up to $500; and expand eligibility and the period of time veterans have to use their benefits.

The subcommittee approved HR 5684 by voice vote, with no controversy. Its chief sponsors are Reps. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., chairwoman of the subcommittee, and John Boozman, R-Ark., the ranking minority party member.

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The Senate bill backed by Filner is S 22, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007, sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va. It would offer more generous benefits than the House bill, but has drawn strong opposition from the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/04/military_filner_gibill_042408w/