Norton Says DC National Guard Tuition Will Help with New GI Bill That Begins Today (8/3/2009)
Norton Says D.C. National Guard Tuition Will Help with New G.I. Bill That Begins Today
August 3, 2009
WASHINGTON - One of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's top education priorities starts paying out today as veterans begin receiving education benefits (undergraduate, graduate, vocational and technical) under the new GI Bill for the 21st Century for members of the military who have served on active duty for at least 90 days beginning September 11, 2001, including activated reservists and members of the National Guard. The Federal Government will pay for up to four years of education benefits, including stipends for housing and books. Full benefits are available for all children of fallen soldiers, with no minimum military service needed to qualify.
Full benefits are available to those who served on active duty for at least 90 days, on a sliding scale. The program will pay for: tuition and fees at public and private colleges up to the maximum cost of in-state tuition and fees at the most expensive public institution in the state; a monthly housing allowance at the location of the school, based on the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents; and an annual books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000.
"The new program is a considerable improvement over its puny predecessor that was truly unworthy of today's military volunteers, who are still shouldering the brunt of two very difficult wars," Norton said. The program still is far below the free tuition, room, and board of the original WWII G.I. bill, but Norton worked hard to see that D.C. National Guard members got equal treatment with enlisted personnel because the Guard has provided most of D.C.'s active duty soldiers. The District of Columbia rate is only $105.00 per credit hour for a tuition or $657.00 per term plus mandatory fees because this amount represents the most expensive public college here, the University of the District of Columbia, the District's only public university. However, in addition to the G.I. bill, the Congresswoman's D.C. National Guard Retention and College Access Act recently re-named to honor of Major General David F. Wherley, Jr., provides an education benefit of $400 per credit hour, up to $5,500 a year to be used in combination with current Department of Defense education assistance programs. Wherley, the recently retired commanding general, died along with his wife, Ann, and other regional residents in the June 22nd Metro collision. Norton renamed the bill the Major General David F. Wherley, Jr. D.C. National Guard Retention and College Access Act. Private colleges that apply to participate in the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement program can qualify for a matching Veteran Administration grant if the college covers half the cost of tuition.
For more information about G.I. benefits, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration at https://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/benefits.htm.