Loebsack helps Guard with education benefit

Thanks go to 2nd District Rep. Dave Loebsack for introducing legislation included in the Post 9/11 GI Bill (S. 3477) that extends educational assistance to members of the National Guard who serve in a homeland security role:

“Essentially, the new GI Bill of Rights that we passed last year unintentionally left out about 30,000 members of the National Guard. They are not receiving all of the benefits they have earned. ... Our National Guard members who participate in disaster response, protection of U.S. airspace, border security and many other critical missions deserve the post-9/11 GI benefits and the opportunities that come with those benefits. 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.”

Loebsack was a co-sponsor of the GI Bill and introduced the bipartisan legislation in 2009 that cleared both houses of Congress. President Barack Obama will sign it into law.

Trish Nelson

Iowa City