U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel released the following statement as delivered on the House floor March 3.
"Mr. Speaker, in every major war since the Revolution, the United States Congress has acknowledged our returning veterans for their service and sacrifice. In this proud tradition, last weekend I announced a "Welcome Home G.I. Bill" for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. It's a bold new direction in helping our veterans achieve the success they so rightly deserve and earned.
The Welcome Home GI Bill provides:
Health care for up to five years for the individual and their family - if they can't get it from their employer, or lost it while overseas.
The Welcome Home GI Bill includes $75,000 for college education and waives the $1,800 fee required for the benefit.
And finally, we'll offer them a tax-free $5,000 down-payment on a home.
Most importantly, under the plan, all returning veterans are treated equally, whether they served active duty, National Guard, or Reserve -- because their experience over there was the same, their benefit here should be the same.
The Welcome Home package is a small token of our appreciation for the debt of gratitude we can never fully repay.
Mr. Speaker, we don't owe our newest veterans a favor. We must repay one."
For more information, visit House.gov/Emanuel. |
