[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 3916-3917]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    ADVOCATING WELCOME HOME GI BILL

  (Mr. EMANUEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, on March 19 we will begin our third year 
in Iraq. The brave men and women of our armed forces have fought 
proudly, and have served proudly.
  After extended tours of duty, many are finally coming home to their 
families. Following every major war, every Congress has compensated its 
returning service men and women with the resources to begin their 
lives. Now is our chance, the 109th Congress, to honor a new generation 
of American heroes.
  The Welcome Home GI Bill is a bold new direction in helping our 
veterans achieve the success they have earned and deserve. It provides 
health care for up to 5 years through the TRICARE program for service 
men and women and their families who do not have health care with their 
place of employment or have lost it.
  The Welcome Home GI Bill includes $75,000 for college education and 
waives the $1,800 fee for getting that education and a down payment on 
their home. Most importantly, under the plan, all returning veterans, 
regardless of service, National Guard, State Guard, or Reservists, 
including our active duty,

[[Page 3917]]

get this benefit. It is what a grateful Nation should do and has always 
done. We do not owe these returning veterans a favor but must repay 
one.

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