Blog Post

IAVA Applauds President’s Bold Action to Protect the New GI Bill
Posted by Michelle McCarthy on April 27 2012

Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, released the following statement commending the President for signing an Executive Order to protect the Post-9/11 GI Bill and career-ready training for new veterans. The order, which applies to the GI Bill, Tuition Assistance Program, and Military Spouse Career Advancement Account Program (MyCAA), will ensure that troops, veterans and their family members using their education benefits are protected from aggressive and deceptive targeting by for-profit schools and other institutions.

“IAVA applauds the President and First Lady for stepping up to ensure veterans’ education is a top national priority and investment. Great careers start with a great education. The President’s Executive Order is a bold step to protect the New GI Bill, one of the single greatest tools new veterans have against unemployment in this tough economy. Right now, vets lack clear and consistent information about their education opportunities. Some for-profit schools are targeting vets through deceptive recruiting and marketing practices, and failing to deliver the quality, career-ready education that they deserve. The President’s order adds much needed transparency to the market and will help thousands of new veterans identify the right school, so they can get the best education and training they need in this job market,” said IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff.

“But we also need to ensure that the loophole that rewards schools to target veterans is closed once and for all. Our community needs the President and Congress’ continued leadership in the coming months to reform the 90-10 rule. The New GI Bill is the largest investment in veterans’ education since World War II. Leaders on both sides of the aisle must ensure GI Bill education dollars are smartly invested. No veteran should be left footing the bill for the education benefits that our country promised. IAVA is committed to working with the President, Congress, and Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to ensure thousands more troops and veterans can take full advantage of this historic benefit.”

In 2008, IAVA spearheaded the historic passage of the New GI Bill, working as a united front with veterans groups and leaders from both sides of the aisle in Congress. Since then, IAVA has worked closely with the White House and Congress to upgrade and expand the benefit to 400,000 more veterans and their family members, while providing IAVA Members with a free GI Bill benefits calculator and other resources to determine their eligibility at IAVA’s NewGIBill.org.

At Storm the Hill 2012 this past March, over two-dozen IAVA members met with the President and First Lady’s advisors at the White House to press for protections to the New GI Bill and expand career-ready training programs. During the trip, IAVA stood with Senate Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Patty Murray and leaders on Capitol Hill to introduce the GI Bill Consumer Awareness Act of 2012. This crucial legislation will also ensure that veterans utilizing the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other VA education benefits have the resources and information they need to identify career-ready schools and programs. For the complete list of pending legislation that IAVA supports to protect the New GI Bill and expand career-ready training for veterans, click here.

Download IAVA's 2012 Policy Agenda for our full recommendations to protect the New GI Bill and curb abuses by for-profit schools.

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