[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 80 (Wednesday, June 22, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                             THE G.I. BILL

                                 ______


                           HON. TIM VALENTINE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 22, 1994

  Mr. VALENTINE. Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago, our Nation was in a state 
of transition the likes of which we had never seen before--and will 
likely not see again. Collectively, we had survived the Great 
Depression; we had sent the sons of our country across the globe to 
fight and win, with our allies, the second ``War to end all Wars.'' 
Fifty years ago, in June 1994, our country first saw light at the end 
of the tunnel. A generation of troubled times and the horror of war 
were about to end.
  We were very fortunate to have leaders in this body, in the other 
body, and in the White House, who had the vision to know that the light 
ahead in the tunnel was not an end. It was a beginning--a beginning of 
a new era for our country and for the world--a new beginning which 
would define our place and our success for the rest of this century.
  Within months, millions of our boys would be coming home from war, 
ready for a fresh start and motivated to make their world a better 
place. The leaders of this Nation were faced with a challenge to 
harness the energy and the drive this generation would bring home and 
to make this a truly new beginning for our Nation.
  Today, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of legislation that was the 
foundation for that new beginning. On June 22, 1944, President Franklin 
Delano Roosevelt signed into law the Serviceman's Readjustment Act of 
1944, better known as the GI bill of rights. This bill was meant to 
serve as a reward to the millions of American soldiers who had 
selflessly served their country and the cause of freedom in Europe, 
Africa, and the Pacific. But, the bill had a much broader, far-reaching 
impact than a simple gratification. It became the vehicle for an 
economic and intellectual stimulus that drove this country back to 
prosperity in the fifties, into the space age of the sixties, and on to 
the information age of today.
  At the end of World War II, more that 8 million American servicemen 
chose to make use of the educational benefits offered by the GI bill. 
The vast majority of these young men would have had no other 
opportunity to advance their education. Before the war, a college 
education was, in effect, a luxury afforded only to the rich and the 
few students bright enough to win a scholarship.

  The GI bill meant that 2 million young soldiers would go to college. 
Another 6 million would choose other types of education and training. 
This influx of students gave new life to our Nation's institutions of 
higher learning. And it gave a generation of working men the skills to 
move this country forward. And, since it's beginning some 50 years ago, 
over 20 million American servicemen and women have received their 
college education from the GI bill.
  The GI bill had another, more immediate effect. It was a key element 
in one of history's fastest and largest economic expansions. The bill 
provided billions of dollars to millions of GI's to buy homes on their 
return to America. With the GI bill, for the first time in history a 
majority of Americans would become homeowners, instead of renters. The 
housing construction industry boomed. Sales of durable goods such as 
cars, washing machines, and other major appliances, put the Nation back 
to work like never before. The GI bill helped provide the education and 
the economic stimulus, and the economic stimulus provided the jobs, 
which further strengthened and improved our Nation's economy.
  Mr. Speaker, despite the best rhetoric of legislative debate today, 
it is rare that we in Congress have the opportunity to craft truly 
landmark legislation. Rarer still do we pass legislation that has the 
scope of positive impact that the GI bill and its successors have had 
on our people and our economy. I am proud that this country's leaders 
had the vision to provide for our returning servicemen a half-century 
ago. It is truly appropriate that we recognize this monumental 
legislation on its anniversary today, and as a part of a year in which 
we honor those who fought and died to preserve freedom and democracy.

                          ____________________