Honoring Our New Veterans

"I pledged my full support for the 21st Century G.I. Bill, sponsored by Senator Jim Webb. Webb's bill has fifty-six cosponsors and enjoys wide support across party lines, including Alaska's junior Senator, Lisa Murkowski.

The 21st Century G.I. Bill would provide veterans who have served since 9/11 with the full cost of going to the highest price public college in their state, as well as creating incentives for private universities to work to cut costs for veterans.

Our veterans have sacrificed for America and we owe them this opportunity."

Here's a video of the press conference at University of Alaska, Anchorage where Mark stated his support for the new G.I. Bill for our Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans.

The 21st Century G.I. Bill provides veterans the financial support needed to go to college - that means covering not just the cost of tuition - but also room and board, books and tutoring.

Right now, under the current GI Bill, veterans only get an average of $1,100 a month. This falls far short of covering the costs of school.

When our veterans come home from Iraq, Afghanistan, or other areas, we want them to have the same educational opportunities as those that served before them in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

To support anything less is wrong.

The 1,600 plus veterans currently enrolled in the University of Alaska system should not have to be saddled with thousands of dollars of debt when they graduate.

Senator Webb's bill provides those who have served our country since 9/11 the full cost of going to the highest cost public school in each state. It also creates incentives for private universities to partner with the federal government to cut the cost at private institutions.

Learn more about where Mark Begich stands when it comes to supporting our veterans by reading his full speech in support of the 21st Century G.I. Bill.