Pete Sessions: “the question of updating GI bill education benefits for our veterans and service personnel is something that we need to…”

“the question of updating GI bill education benefits for our veterans and service personnel is something that we need to do. I think all of us agree on that. I have to say that how we do it, however, is very important. The Webb-Warner bill, as written, fails in some very important ways, ways that make it poor legislation. We need to be honest about that. I believe the bill offered by Senators McCain, Burr, and Graham is much better legislation. Frankly, I thank Senator McCain for having the gumption to stand up and see the problems with this legislation. He said he knew it was important and he was willing to take some political heat here to try to do the right thing. Let me read you what the Congressional Budget Office has said about this legislation. This is what they say about retention. We heard that in remarks from some Senators earlier, but retention deals with how many people re-up and decide after their initial tour of duty is up to make a longer--a new commitment to stay in the military for a longer period or even make it a career. We are in a career military, and I could not be more proud of them. They are performing so exceptionally well. No person who has been around the military for a few years would ever want to go back to the system we had before. This one is working surprisingly well, beyond our expectations. And even in this war where if you reenlist you are likely to be sent abroad, retention continues to be very high.”