Sends Letter Urging Secretary Shinseki To Take Immediate Action To Resolve Delays In Implementing Post-9/11 GI Bill
WASHINGTONU.S. Sen. John Cornyn R-Texas today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki citing serious concerns with the delays veterans across the country are experiencing in obtaining their promised education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Various news accounts report that veterans are standing in long lines at VA regional offices hoping to receive emergency payments to make ends meet. Many have started school without the necessary assistance they were promisedsome foregoing payments toward other expenses such as housing and credit cards while others have not been able to afford books and course materials.
This new generation of American veterans like those generations before them demonstrates their professionalism and dedication to our country every day. In return they deserve our utmost supportwhich means the timely delivery of the benefits to which they are entitled. As such your Department has a solemn obligation to expeditiously provide these benefits" Sen. Cornyn wrote.
On behalf of over 42500 Texas constituents who have applied for Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits as well as all of our honorable veterans across the nation I urge you to give this matter your immediate attention and take whatever actions are necessary to rectify the situation and get this critical program on track."
The full text of Sen. Cornyns letter is below and attached:
October 5 2009
The Honorable Eric K. Shinseki
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington DC 20420
Dear Secretary Shinseki:
I write to express great concern over the delayed implementation of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill program which is your Departments responsibility. Based on recent news accounts I understand that long lines of veterans are having to stand at VA regional offices across the country hoping to receive emergency payments in order to make ends meet.
I have heard from numerous Texas constituents who have been negatively impacted by the VAs backlog in processing G.I. Bill benefit payments. Many recount that they have had to begin the fall school semester without the necessary assistance which they were promised and had planned around. As a result some of my constituents risk falling behind on mortgage payments credit card bills and rent payments just to stay enrolled in colleges and universities. Many have had to attend school without being able to purchase the necessary books and supplies and some have had to drop out of school for the entire semester due to financial hardship
When these veterans chose to stand up raise their right hands and don the uniform of our nations Armed Forces they volunteered to put their civilian lives on hold for the sake of their nation and their fellow Americans. Now as they seek to gain further education to prepare for civilian careers many of Americas veterans have seemingly been let down by the Department whose primary mission it is to serve and care for them.
Those who have served our nation in uniform since September 11 2001 have been asked to deploy around the world in a critical effort to fight tyranny and protect their fellow Americans from terrorism. To honor their service and recognize their sacrifice Congress enacted the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. This critical legislation is supposed to provide these veterans the same range of educational opportunities afforded those veterans who served during World War II and benefitted from the original G.I. Bill of 1944.
This new generation of American veterans like those generations before them demonstrates their professionalism and dedication to our country every day. In return they deserve our utmost supportwhich means the timely delivery of the benefits to which they are entitled. As such your Department has a solemn obligation to expeditiously provide these benefits.
On behalf of over 42500 Texas constituents who have applied for Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits as well as all of our honorable veterans across the nation I urge you to give this matter your immediate attention and take whatever actions are necessary to rectify the situation and get this critical program on track.
Thank you for your continued support of Americas veterans.
Sincerely
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator
