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Guest Commentary: August 18, 2001
Keeping Faith With Our Service Men and Women
The Honorable Joseph Biden
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At the beginning of this brand new century, the United States finds itself in an enviable position on the world stage. While we are universally acknowledged to be the only remaining international superpower, every generation has unexpected challenges to face, often in far flung corners of the globe. With that enhanced stature comes increasing responsibility and, now more than ever before, our military must attract and retain the highest quality individuals to serve in our armed forces.
Having spoken to thousands of service men and women over the years, it's clear to me that a key factor attracting many young people to the military is the availability of educational benefits after discharge from service. Congress recognized this simple fact 57 years ago when it enacted the GI Bill, legislation that allowed millions of veterans to obtain a college education and, in most cases, attain a standard of living they could not have imagined. Indeed, the GI Bill has been instrumental in creating the vast middle class whose quality of life is the envy of the world.
Back then, the GI Bill benefit included full tuition and fees at any educational institution to which the veteran gained admittance, plus a monthly stipend equivalent to roughly $500 in today's world. For many vets, that was the difference that made it possible for them to get married and begin planting roots in their communities.
Though still available, the current GI bill suffers from one enormous flaw -- the educational stipend available to service men and women today no longer comes close to matching the rapid rise in educational costs over the past 50 years. As a result, many veterans find the goal of obtaining a college degree out of reach.
While Congress properly takes up legislation to improve access to high quality elementary, secondary and higher education for non-veterans, it's unconscionable that the same benefits for those who put their lives at risk for our country are lagging behind.
To rectify this situation, I have joined with several of my colleagues in the Senate in offering the Veterans' Higher Education Opportunities Act of 2001. This bill would increase the education stipend available to military men and women to a level equal to the average cost of tuition at a 4-year public college. In other words, we would ensure that the standard 36 months of GI bill benefits are sufficient to allow a veteran to attend college and complete a degree.
There will be some opposition among those who argue we cannot afford to expand such benefits, that the military has other competing needs. But the morale and welfare of our men and women in uniform, along with their families, indispensable to a strong military. No amount of hardware or military systems can substitute for the cohesion required to create a powerful, effective armed forces capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century.
It's really very simple. If you serve our country, if you are willing to give your time and talent, if you put at risk your personal safety to ensure our security and freedom, we should repay that sacrifice. This bill will allow us to do just that. It is the least a grateful nation can do for its deserving sons and daughters.
Note: Senator Biden issues a monthly column; the above is adapted from his August 2001 issue.
 How to contact Senator Joe Biden (D-DE)
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