May 22, 2008
Congratulations to Senators Barbara Mikulski, Ben Cardin, and the 73 other members of the United States Senate for your leadership in passing overwhelmingly a bill that will provide much-needed assistance for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. We have asked our men and women in uniform to sacrifice their jobs, their families and in many cases, their very lives. It is imperative that our government reward this sacrifice by investing in our veterans by helping them to attend college.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to Senator Jim Webb of Virginia for his leadership in standing up for America's veterans whenever and wherever they are in need. As the daughter of a career U.S. service member, I appreciate fully the challenges and needs of transitioning from military to civilian life. My father was the beneficiary of the old G.I. Bill, and those benefits transformed our lives and the opportunities for my father and for our family. They were a just reward for long and honorable service and sacrifice.
As we approach this Memorial Day, I join the United States House of Representatives and Senate in urging President Bush to sign the 2008 G.I. Bill. I ask the President to recognize that providing for our veterans after their deployment, and in so many cases multiple deployments, must be one of this nation's top priorities. To be sure, my opposition to continued U.S. involvement in the Iraq War is not to be confused with my categorical support in honoring and valuing the service and sacrifice of America's finest. I am grateful today that Congress is standing with our service members and for their future. President Bush must do the same.
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