Edwards commends passage of G.I. Bill

Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington), the Democratic nominee in Maryland's Fourth Congressional District, issued a statement expressing her support for the 2008 G.I. Bill, which passed in the Senate on Thursday.

The legislation, which President Bush has vowed to veto, will increase educational benefits for members of the Armed Forces, and will include a full-ride to in-state public colleges and universities along with the elimination of a $1,200 fee service members pay to qualify for the G.I. bill.

"Congratulations to Senators Barbara Mikulski, Ben Cardin, and the 73 other members of the United States Senate for your leadership in passing overwhelmingly a bill that will provide much-needed assistance for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars," Edwards said. "We have asked our men and women in uniform to sacrifice their jobs, their families and in many cases, their very lives. It is imperative that our government reward this sacrifice by investing in our veterans by helping them to attend college."

Edwards, whose father and brother served in the United States Air Force, said her experiences growing up allowed her to "appreciate fully the challenges and needs of transitioning from military to civilian life." 

"My father was the beneficiary of the old G.I. Bill, and those benefits transformed our lives and the opportunities for my father and for our family," Edwards said. "They were a just reward for long and honorable service and sacrifice."

Since Thursday, the issue of the bill's passage has reached the presidential campaign, where Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) have each spoken out against the other's position on the issue. Obama, who voted for the bill, cited the educational benefits, while McCain, who skipped the vote to campaign, said he opposed the legislation because it would, in his opinion, reduce re-enlistments; similar to what Bush has said.

Edwards, meanwhile, called on the president to "sign the 2008 G.I. Bill."

"I ask the president to recognize that providing for our veterans after their deployment, and in so many cases multiple deployments, must be one of this nation's top priorities. To be sure, my opposition to continued U.S. involvement in the Iraq War is not to be confused with my categorical support in honoring and valuing the service and sacrifice of America's finest.  I am grateful today that Congress is standing with our service members and for their future.  President Bush must do the same."

Edwards will face Republican Peter James in the June 17 special congressional election.