Supporting Our Veterans

Mark Begich's Prepared Remarks

G.I. Bill News Conference
Monday, April 28; 11:00 am; UAA Student Center "The Den"

Thank you for being here today.

And thank you to the students and veterans who have joined me to talk about this important issue.

When I announced my candidacy for the United States Senate a week ago, I applauded the 70,000--plus veterans in Alaska. They have made an incredible sacrifice for our country.

Unfortunately, on a number of fronts, our country is failing our veterans – on health care, housing assistance, and education.

As one of the first steps in my campaign, I want to focus on these issues. For all of the veterans here today – and those across our state – I will make these issues a priority – while I am on the campaign trail but also when I get into office.

I am honored to stand here today with some of the young veterans that have come back to Alaska after serving their country so honorably.

Today, I am here to pledge my full support for the 21st Century GI Bill, sponsored by senators Jim Webb, a Democrat from Virginia; and Chuck Hagel a Republican from Nebraska.

Their bill honors the tradition of the original GI Bill and provides full educational benefits to our veterans who are completing their service and want to go to college.

Currently, this bipartisan effort has the support of 57 senators - Democrats and Republicans - including Senator Lisa Murkowski.

It 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. As you can see from the chart - 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 1600 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.

This is not complicated. Our veterans have sacrificed for America and we owe them this opportunity.

Closing the financial gap for our veterans should be a top priority for Congress. Over the next few weeks Congress will be taking important votes on the 21st Century GI Bill.

I urge Senator Stevens to join me in providing veterans the full cost of a college education, like the one he received when returning from World War II thanks to the GI Bill.

We need to restore the tradition our country has had after World War II of offering full educational assistance to all of our returning veterans.

Not only do these benefits help our veterans, they help our country. For every dollar invested in World War II veterans, seven dollars were generated.

The original GI Bill sparked economic growth and expansion for that generation of Americans. A more generous GI Bill now will do the same for today's economy.

It’s just as important now as it was then.

I know there are other, watered-down bills that have been introduced in the Senate - but anything less than full support for our veterans is just not acceptable.

The veterans of our modern wars deserve the same educational benefits as the veterans of previous wars. They've made the same sacrifice, they deserve the same rewards.