Heckman announces support for the GI Bill for the 21st Century

NORCROSS, Georgia - Combat veteran Doug Heckman, the Democratic candidate for Georgia's 7^th Congressional District, announced his support for the GI Bill for the 21^st Century. The major congressional forces behind the Bill are combat veterans: Jim Webb (D-VA), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and John Warner (R-VA). The Bill proposes that returning combat veterans, from Afghanistan and Iraq, be awarded the equivalent of full four year scholarships at in-state public universities. The GI Bill for the 21st Century, when fully implemented, will cost about $5 billion a year. This is equivalent to what the government spends for two weeks of combat in Iraq. Funding for the Bill will be paid through a 1.5% surtax on couples earning over $1 million per year.

The GI Bill for the 21^st Century helps make our troops and veterans part of a new economic recovery, just like the Greatest Generation did after World War II. But despite bipartisan majorities in the House (256-156) and Senate (75-22) and overwhelming support from veterans groups, Congressman John Linder R-GA voted against the bill. Mr. Heckman said, "It amazes me how Congressman Linder has no problem funding soldiers going into combat, but when it comes time to fund their reintegration into society, he balks. Additionally, the cost of the benefit is paid as we ask our society to sacrifice a little more. We need to continue to stand up for our veterans as they come home!"

Doug Heckman is a combat veteran of both Afghanistan and Iraq.

For more information, please visit Heckman's website at www.DougHeckman.com