Measure hopes to include Guardsmen who were left out of new GI Bill

The landmark Post 9/11 GI Bill sent an unprecedented number of veterans to college this fall. But a large chunk of personnel from one service branch missed out.

National Guard members activated only under Title 32 status were not included in the new GI Bill. Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) hopes to change that with the passage of the National Guard Education Equality Act, a measure that will include Title 32 service in the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The bill will grant full benefits to an estimated 30,000 Guardsmen who served entirely or in part on our country’s home soil, as airport security directly after the 9/11 attacks, as protectorates of U.S. airspace, as Hurricane Katrina responders, as border security with Operation Jumpstart, or on full-time active duty as part of the Active Guard Reserve. Currently, only Title 10 service and missions count toward GI Bill benefits.