‘Forever G.I. Bill’ will help veterans

We owe our deepest gratitude to the service members and veterans living in Pennsylvania and across the country. Since my time in Congress, and serving on the House Veterans Affairs Committee during the 114th Congress, I have been a strong advocate for improving and modernizing the G.I. Bill, a World War II-era law that provides opportunities for service members and veterans to utilize their earned education benefits as they transition to the civilian workforce.

The House will soon consider legislation I helped introduce in Congress, the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, which is commonly known as the Forever G.I. Bill.

In a sweeping and bipartisan improvement, the new bill will eliminate the current 15-year cap on accessing benefits under the law, allowing future eligible veterans to have access to the benefits throughout their entire lives.

The Forever G.I. Bill also increases funding for those serving as Reservists and Guardsmen, who may not otherwise meet the requirements for access to G.I. Bill funding. And it brings these benefits into the 21st Century by increasing opportunities for veterans to complete a STEM degree and receive training in other high technology programs, which is another priority of mine as a member of the Congressional STEM and the Veterans Jobs Caucuses.

Service members and veterans have invested so much in our country, and we must invest in them now and empower generations to come. I’m pleased the House will consider this legislation and I will advocate for it to be signed into law.

Rep. Ryan Costello R-6th District