Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise in enthusiastic support of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, or the new GI Bill. I thank Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz for leading the charge so that we can bring this important legislation to the House floor today. I have the great honor of serving on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, a committee on which Democrats and Republicans work together and work closely with our partners, the veterans service organizations. The GI Bill we bring forward today is no exception. This strong bipartisan legislation represents the biggest expansion of veterans' educational benefits in a decade. It is a huge win for our Nation's veterans. The men and women of our military deserve the security of knowing that, upon completion of their service to our country, they will be able to embark on a fulfilling career and continue providing for their families. I want to highlight several of the veterans who represent why we need this bill today. The first is a young man from my hometown of Cheshire. He was a classmate of my middle son in high school, and who, at age 19, lost his left leg and seriously injured his right leg when his unit was hit by an IED in Afghanistan. He had been in the country 3 months. It was the third IED. He has been awarded a Purple Heart, but this young man and many others would not, under the current GI Bill, be entitled to receive educational benefits. That seems crazy, and it is.…”