Bill Offers 30k Guardsmen New GI Bill

Loebsack Introduces National Guard Education Equality Act

Recognizes the Service of National Guard, Helps Over 30,000 Soldiers and Airmen Receive Education Benefits in Post 9/11 GI Bill

WASHINGTON DC – Congressman Dave Loebsack introduced the National Guard Education Equality Act, a bipartisan bill that will help over 30,000 members of the National Guard receive their full education benefits. Last month, the first benefits provided under the landmark Post 9/11 GI bill began to be distributed.

“The benefits under the landmark Post 9/11 GI Bill are a reflection of our gratitude to those who have served our country since the 9/11 attacks and will help make this generation of veterans part of our nation’s economic recovery.” said Congressman Loebsack. “Unfortunately, due to a technical glitch, over 30,000 members of the National Guard are not receiving the benefits that they have earned. This bill recognizes the service of the Soldiers and Airmen of the National Guard by including all of their active duty service in the calculation of their GI Bill benefits.”

On August 3rd, the first benefits provided under the Post 9/11 GI Bill began to be distributed. Due to a technical error in the original legislation, over 30,000 members of the National Guard are not receiving the full benefits they have earned. 

Eligibility for the GI Bill is calculated based upon length of service but the current law only includes certain classifications of service. Currently, only missions that are classified as Title 10 missions are counted toward GI Bill benefits. Unfortunately, many essential homeland security missions performed by the National Guard are classified as Title 32 missions. This includes service in operations such as airport security directly after the 9/11 attacks; protection of US airspace; Hurricane Katrina response; border security as part of Operation Jumpstart; full time active duty as part of the Active Guard and Reserve; and counterdrug activities.

Additionally, current law provides a full four year college education to servicemembers with a service-connected disability if they are discharged from active duty under Title 10.  However, members of the National Guard who have sustained a service-connected disability are discharged under Title 32.  As a result, they are not eligible for the full four year college education they deserve in recognition of their service and sacrifice.

“Our National Guard members who participate in disaster response, protection of US airspace, border security, and many other critical missions deserve the Post 9/11 GI benefits and the opportunities that come with those benefits,” added Congressman Loebsack. “I have had the privilege and honor to meet with many Iowa National Guardsmen, and they deserve the education benefits that will enable them to be part of the American dream. As a former college professor, I know and understand the many doors an education can open. A small technical error will not and should not get in the way of opening those doors.”

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The National Guard Education Equality Act fixes and streamlines the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits system in order to properly recognize the role of the National Guard in our homeland and national security. It eliminates the technical error by including Title 32 service in the benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill and by providing a full four year college education to members of the National Guard who have been discharged under Title 32 with a service-connected disability. The bill is endorsed by the American Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS), and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).