Sen. Webb's new GI Bill gets overwhelming OK in Senate

WASHINGTON

The Senate overwhelmingly agreed to a historic new college aid program for veterans last night, capping an 18-month battle to give troops in the war on terror GI Bill benefits comparable to those provided to Americans who fought in World War II.

The 92-6 vote came on legislation that also provides $165 billion to support continued U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and a new round of aid to rebuild Mississippi River levees ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.

The Bush administration requested the war funds more than a year ago, and it had warned that without action soon the Pentagon would have to institute layoffs and shut down some areas in order to divert money to supporting troops in the field.

The vote sends the bill to President Bush, who has pledged to sign it. Passage came hours after Democratic Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia and other GI bill backers, along with a corps of volunteer lobbyists, hailed the program as an overdue signal of the country's appreciation for sacrifices made by troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"This is a new program, a deserved program. Take advantage of it and show us what you can do," Webb urged veterans.

Veterans will not feel the bill's full effect until next year. In the meantime, the Department of Veterans Affairs must overhaul its computer systems to recalculate the aid due each former service member.

As soon as the bill is signed, participants in the current Montgomery GI Bill program will receive a $200-per-month increase in their monthly college aid payment, to about $1,300 for those who served on active duty.

Many will get more aid once the VA fully implements the legislation. The bill guarantees program participants a monthly cost-of-living allowance for their time in college, plus tuition aid equal to the highest in-state tuition in the veteran's state of residence.

Veterans who opt for private colleges, where tuitions typically are higher than at state-supported schools, will qualify for additional aid if the schools agree to match it.

Patrick Campbell, legislative director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, one of dozens of veterans groups that worked on the legislation, said he's been in touch with some private colleges to urge their participation. He said he's gotten no commitments, but administrators at several schools have indicated their desire to boost aid to veterans.

Although the Montgomery GI Bill is restricted to veterans who enrolled when they enlisted and paid $100 per month into the program during their first year of service, the new bill's benefits will be available to everyone serving in the military since Sept. 11, 2001.

The new benefit is expected to cost taxpayers about $51 billion over 10 years, a price the Bush administration initially suggested was exorbitant. The $5 billion average annual cost is equal to about one and one-half months of the cost of the current U.S. military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, noted Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., one of the bill's high-profile backers.

Bush, who had supported an alternative plan introduced by GOP lawmakers including Sen. John McCain, the party's presumptive presidential nominee, agreed to sign the Webb bill earlier this month. Backers of the legislation accepted a White House demand that the bill allow long-serving vets to transfer some or all of their college aid to their spouses and children.

The transferability provisions are intended to encourage troops to make a career of the military. Even with them, Pentagon officials have warned that the new college aid may encourage troops to leave the military when their enlistments expire.

Webb, who has made the GI bill the central focus of his first 18 months in office, said he expects the enhanced benefits will be rolled back once American troops are no longer involved in combat.

But Campbell said veterans groups expect the new aid will be permanent. Webb's legislation does not carry an expiration date.

Webb's dogged pursuit of the bill's passage earned bipartisan praise Thursday, with his Virginia colleague, Republican John Warner, likening it to the "heroism" Webb displayed as a young Marine lieutenant during the Vietnam War. Webb was awarded the Navy Cross, the service's second-highest honor, in that conflict.

Dale Eisman, (703) 913-9872, dale.eisman@pilotonline.com