Dear Fellow Veterans and Colleagues,
The
President just signed into law the Harry W. Colmery Veterans
Educational Assistance Act of 2017, also known as the “Forever GI Bill,”
named after the American Legion national commander who wrote the
original GI Bill language in 1944. This legislation contains 34 new
provisions, the vast majority of which will enhance or expand education
benefits for Veterans, Servicemembers, Families and Survivors.
Most
notably, Veterans who transitioned out of the military after January 1,
2013 will not be limited to the 15-year deadline to use their GI Btestimonialill
benefits – hence the bill’s nickname, “Forever GI Bill.” This law also
restores benefits to Veterans, who were impacted by school closures
since 2015, and expands benefits for our reservists, surviving
dependents, Purple Heart recipients, and provides many other
improvements.
We
see Congress’s overwhelming bipartisan support and the President’s
signing as a major accomplishment for our nation’s Veterans. The
original GI Bill has long been considered an enormous success by
historians, politicians and economists for its impact on the post-war
economy and capital investment in our “Greatest Generation.” The passage
of this bill ensures that generations to come will continue to walk in
that greatness.
As
you can imagine, VA has a lot of work ahead of us in order to ensure
successful implementation of this new law, and as we roll out each
provision, we’ll keep you updated and informed on our progress.
Thank you all for your continued support of our nation’s Veterans, Servicemembers and their families.
Regards,
Curtis L. Coy
Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity
Veterans Benefits Administration
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Washington, DC 20420
VA Core Values: Integrity, Commitment
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