Excluding these well-deserving servicemembers from a benefit that the majority of their fellow veterans are receiving is simply discriminating.

H.R. 3554, granting Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to those servicemembers activated under Title 32, is absolutely essential to the future of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

It shouldn't matter if you are in a firefight in Afghanistan or fighting a fire in California, if you are wearing a military uniform you should be compensated for your service.

I believe that a right that cannot be enforced is no right at all.

We are honored to offer our support for H.R. 3554, the National Guard Education Equality Act.

The landmark Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act not only expresses our Nation's gratitude to our men and women in uniform, it will also help to make this generation of veterans part of our country's economic recovery.

I urge the Subcommittee's support for H.R. 3554 and I thank you for allowing me to testify.

I have introduced the 'National Guard Education Equality Act,' H.R. 3554.

It shouldn't matter if you are in a firefight in Afghanistan or fighting a fire in California, if you are wearing a military uniform you should be compensated for your service.

We have to just simply accept that fact. I know that in the past we have said that we knew that.

I look forward to working with Secretary Donovan, to all of you on this Committee, to those who are about to testify.