[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 87 (Tuesday, June 22, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7165-S7166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      60TH ANNIVERSARY OF GI BILL

  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 60th 
anniversary of one of the most important bills to ever be passed by 
this body, the GI bill. Just like the recent remembrance of D-Day and 
the unveiling of the World War II memorial, the passage of this 
landmark legislation is another part of the World War II legacy.
  Sixty years ago today, President Roosevelt signed into law the 
``Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944.'' That bill created 
unprecedented access to education and training for tens of thousands of 
military members returning home after World War II.
  Even before the War ended, Congress and the Administration were 
preparing for the return of over 15 million men and women serving in 
the armed services. Without intervention, those 15 million would have 
no jobs or opportunities when they returned home. To

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prevent postwar depression caused by mass unemployment, an agency 
within the Administration, called the National Resource Planning Board, 
recommended a set of programs to provide education, training and 
employment for returning soldiers. One of these recommendations became 
the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, which was supported by the 
American Legion and other veteran organizations, and was unanimously 
passed both chambers of Congress. President Franklin D. Roosevelt 
signed it into law on June 22, 1944.
  This bill became know as GI bill, and it provided a range of benefits 
to help veterans reintegrate into the workforce and American society. 
It provided education and training; loan guaranty for a home, farm, or 
business; unemployment pay for up to a year; job-search assistance; 
building materials for veterans hospitals; and military review of 
dishonorable discharges.
  Veterans were entitled to one year of full-time education or 
training, plus a period equal to their time in service, up to four 
years. This program had a tremendous impact on college enrollment in 
this country. In fact, in 1947, which was the peak year of the program, 
veterans accounted for 49 percent of college enrollment.
  Out of a veteran population of 15.4 million, just over half--7.8 
million--were trained, including 2.23 million in college, 3.48 million 
in other schools, 1.4 million in on-job training, and 690,000 in farm 
training.
  Millions of veterans, who would have flooded the labor market, 
instead opted for education, which reduced joblessness during the 
demobilization period. When they did enter the labor market, most were 
better prepared to contribute to the support of their families and 
society.
  The GI bill created an initiative called the Local Veterans 
Employment Representative Program, or LVER. This program hired wartime 
veterans to work in employment centers across the U.S. to help other 
veterans secure counseling and employment. For 60 years, the LVER 
Program has helped veterans find jobs, training, and education. It has 
become an integral part of employment services and has been 
instrumental in helping veterans to resume normal lives after 
returning.
  Today, LVER staff in my home State include some of the best-trained 
worker placement and retraining experts in the country. For Washington, 
which has one of the largest concentrations of servicemen and women, 
veterans, and their families, this is very important. Within my state, 
Pierce County has a particularly high active military and veteran 
population, and the LVER program there is a terrific example of what is 
possible.
  The Pierce County LVER program ensures that over 25,000 veterans 
receive the vital re-employment support they deserve. With staff 
assistance, they write resumes that reflect the breadth of their 
experience and skills, draft cover letters, and research employment 
opportunities. Veterans are also provided with leads on specific jobs 
and employers who seek the unique skills and talents of experienced 
veterans.
  Staff of the Pierce County LVER also set up three major job fairs 
each year, which attract over more than 6,000 veterans and employers 
each year. The LVER office coordinates its activities with over 500 
local, State, and national employers, giving veterans access to a 
unique national support network. The LVER staff includes men and women 
like Sam Mack, Sal Cantu, Tanya Brewster, and Vicki Bishop, all of whom 
are decorated veterans who are proud to support their fellow servicemen 
and women.
  Sal Cantu, a resident of Pierce County, epitomizes the dedication and 
commitment of his colleagues. Sal coordinated a national effort to not 
only celebrate the GI bill, but specifically to recognize the LVER 
program and its tremendous impact on service members who seek 
meaningful employment once they return home. More than 25 State 
governors wrote letters lauding the efforts of the Pierce County LVER 
staff to recognize the significant impact of their program.
  Most importantly, Sal, a 40 percent-disabled Vietnam era veteran, 
knows how to build trusting and lasting relationships with veterans. 
For him, helping veterans chart the next stage of their careers is a 
labor of love. I am extremely proud of the many men and women like Sal 
who, after serving honorably in the military, have made it their second 
career to support and help locate jobs for their fellow veterans.
  Yet before the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, the United 
States did not provide employment or vocational services for veterans 
upon their completion of military service. Since the first GI bill, 
there have been five subsequent programs enacted to provide benefits to 
veterans of other military conflicts--from the Korean conflict to the 
war in Iraq. The most recent bill, the Montgomery GI bill enacted in 
1985, is the largest contemporary program providing education benefits 
to military personnel. All enlisted soldiers and veterans are eligible 
for between $7,500 and $35,000 in educational aid. This program has 
attracted men and women into the armed forces by helping to pay for 
college. Today, over 90 percent of those who enter the military enroll 
in the Montgomery GI bill program.
  As we reflect on the history and success of the GI bill, we should 
consider how this program can translate to all Americans. The spirit of 
the GI bill that in exchange for contributing to society, this country 
should help individuals invest in themselves also holds true for those 
who have not served in the military. As the cost of education rises, 
many low- and middle-income students--whether they have served in the 
military or not need help covering educational expenses. We need to 
make the same kind of investment in the human capital, not just of our 
veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, but for all Americans. We 
need a GI bill for all Americans.
  In the ever-changing global economy, the success of our companies 
depends on adaptability and innovation. As a result, we must change the 
way we educate and prepare workers to compete in the global economy. 
When national leaders were confronted with fundamental changes in the 
size and nature of the country's workforce following World War II, they 
stepped up to address the challenge with the GI bill. The economic sea 
changes we face today demand a similar response.
  To maintain our economic competitiveness, we must keep up with the 
demand for skilled workers across all sectors of the economy. The 
changing economy has increased the demand for a college degree. In 
February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 6 of the 10 
fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. economy require an associate's 
degree or bachelor's degree, and that all ten of these careers will 
require some type of skills training. By 2010, 40 percent of all job 
growth will require some form of post-secondary education.
  To keep pace in the new, knowledge- and information-based economy, 
it's imperative that we equip our workforce with the skills to succeed 
in high-wage jobs. If we fail, those who lack skills will fall further 
and further behind, imperiling not just their individual futures, but 
America's ability to compete in the global economy.
  It is the responsibility of this body to return to the level of 
investment in higher education that this country made 60 years ago. We 
do need a new GI bill for all Americans, and I, for one, intend to 
fight to make the idea of universal post-secondary education come to 
fruition.

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