KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Today, in a true display of patriotic bipartisanship, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously to pass S. 1589, the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, informally known as the Forever GI Bill.
“The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is extremely pleased with the swift passage of this bill. The GI Bill is one of our nation’s best tools for setting our veterans up for future success,” said VFW National Commander Keith Harman. “This new legislation improves upon that tool. And its unanimous passage by the House and now the Senate, shows our nation’s commitment to those who served our country.”
The legislation, geared to address eligibility and coverage gaps in the current Post-9/11 GI Bill has been strongly supported by the VFW. Joining it in its advocacy efforts regarding the bill were several other veterans organizations to include Student Veterans of America, The American Legion, The Military Order of the Purple Heart, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Vietnam Veterans of America and Got Your 6.
The VFW has strongly advocated on behalf of America’s student veterans for more than a half a century. Its efforts have led to the 1944 GI Bill of Rights, the 1984 Montgomery GI Bill, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and now, the reformed legislation, the Forever GI Bill.
Since the activation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill in 2008, more than one million veterans have taken advantage of the benefit to pursue their post-military educational goals. However, the Forever GI Bill ensures more veterans and their survivors have an opportunity to pursue their educational goals, such as Purple Heart recipients who do not have the requisite three years of active service; veterans attending schools that close abruptly through no fault of their own; thousands of involuntarily activated Reservists and Guardsmen; surviving family members; and it eliminates the 15-year use-or-lose limitation, which means veterans truly have a lifetime to use their GI Bill.