Trump signs bill expanding college assistance for veterans

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE
Associated Press

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) - President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law an updated veterans' education bill that marks the largest expansion of college assistance for military veterans in a decade.

The Forever GI Act immediately removed a 15-year time limit on the use of GI benefits. The measure also increases financial assistance for thousands serving in the National Guard and Reserve, building on a 2008 law that guaranteed veterans a full-ride scholarship to any in-state public university, or a similar cash amount to attend private colleges.

Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, who joined Trump for the signing, said the new law also provides benefits to Purple Heart recipients whose injuries forced them to leave the service. Benefits can also now be transferred to the eligible dependent of service members who are killed in the line of duty.

Veterans would get additional payments for completing science, technology and engineering courses, part of a broad effort to better prepare veterans for life after active-duty service amid a fast-changing job market. The law also restores benefits if a college closes in the middle of the semester, a protection that was added after thousands of veterans were hurt by the collapse of for-profit college giant ITT Technical Institute and Corinthian Colleges.

"This is expanding our ability to support our veterans in getting education," Shulkin told reporters at a briefing after Trump signed the measure at his New Jersey golf club upon returning there after two nights at his home at New York's Trump Tower. Journalists were not permitted to watch Trump sign the bill, as the White House has done for earlier veterans' legislation he has turned into law. That includes a measure Trump signed at the club Saturday to provide nearly $4 billion in emergency funding for a temporary veterans health care program.

Wednesday's signing came the day after Trump was soundly rebuked for continuing to insist that "both sides" were culpable for an outbreak of violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the weekend between white supremacists and counter-demonstrators. One woman was killed.

A wide range of veterans groups supported the education measure. The Veterans of Foreign Wars says hundreds of thousands stand to benefit.

Student Veterans of America says that only about half of the 200,000 service members who leave the military each year go on to enroll in college, while surveys indicate that veterans often outperform peers in the classroom.

"Taking care of our veterans includes empowering them with the opportunity to succeed," said Mark Lucas, executive director of Concerned Veterans for America. "We applaud President Trump for his continued dedication to helping veterans and support of meaningful reform."

The expanded educational benefits would be paid for by bringing living stipend payments under the GI Bill down to a similar level as that received by an active-duty member, whose payments were reduced in 2014 by 1 percent a year for five years. Total government spending on the GI Bill is expected to be more than $100 billion over 10 years.

___

Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rent control rumored to be driving apartment sales | News

Mountain View's rent- control program has already survived political and legal trials -- but what about the business test? An increasing number of apartment owners appear to be cashing out rather than working under the new restrictions. If the trend continues, some say it will lead to a cascade of redevelopment spearheaded by large corporate buyers . This scenario would result in older apartments being phased out and replaced with new housing that is exempt from rent control. Those looking at the data with a more critical eye point out that sales of apartment buildings are up throughout the South Bay, and that the number of buyers indicates a healthy interest in investing in Mountain View housing , regardless of rent control. To take one example, Fremont residents Ann and Paul Lethers decided in June to sell their 18-unit complex on Del Medio Avenue in Mountain View, which they created from separate purchases of two adjacent nine-unit buildings. They say they h...
Read more

15 must-see attractions on Staten Island

Image
With major developments underway , Staten Island is slowly losing its nickname as the “forgotten borough.” While projects like the New York Wheel, Empire Outlets and the expansion of the former Stapleton homeport hope to revitalize the water-front borough with new residential and commercial space, Staten Island already offers visitors a ton of unique attractions to explore. Just take the free Staten Island Ferry to discover the miles of coastline and 12,300-acres of parkland in the city’s greenest and least populated borough. For the best spots in the borough, follow 6sqft’s list ahead of the 15 most unforgettable attractions on Staten Island . snug harbor cultural center , staten island attractions" width="1500" height="1000" /> Image via NYC & Company snug harbor cultural center , staten island attractions" width="1500" height="1000" /> New York Chinese Scholar ’s Garden via NYC & Company 1. Snug Harbor Cultural...
Read more

Petaluma smash-and-grab, car chase, leads to thorny arrest | Petaluma Argus Courier

Two men suspected of brazenly breaking into cars early Friday evening led police on a chase through Petaluma, fleeing on foot after an officer rammed a patrol car into the suspect’s vehicle in an attempt to end the pursuit, police said. Around 5:20 p.m., police received reports that two men associated with a white Chrysler sedan were smashing a car window in the parking lot of the Petaluma Village Premium Outlets , according to a news release from the Petaluma Police Department . Within a few minutes, police located the Chrysler in the parking lot, though the driver immediately sped away from the 2200 Petaluma Blvd . North retail complex . The driver led police on a chase headed southbound on the heavily congested Petaluma Boulevard South , topping out at 60 mph, police said. Less than a mile later, the driver made a left onto Shasta Avenue, which is a dead end street . When the driver attempted to turn around and flee, an officer used the front of his patrol vehicle to push the...
Read more