US Senate Candidate Wants Expanded GI Bill

Congressman and US Senate Candidate Joe Sestak says he has introduced legislation that would expand the GI Bill and make other changes that he thinks will help men and women when they leave the armed services. Currently, veterans cannot use their GI Bill money to attend career, vocational or technical training schools. Sestak says that makes no sense. He says many vets want to make a living using their hands and the federal government is telling them they will not help them pay for their training. The bill would also set up a system by which members of the military can get credit for training they receive while serving. Sestak, who spent 30 years in the navy, says he knew men and women who were highly skilled welders and electricians but had nothing official to show for it when they left the service. The Air Force has set up a sort of “community college” and has had its technical training classes certified. He says members of all branches of the military should be able to tap into that type of program. He says having those credits transfer to other programs or certifications will not only make life easier for vets trying to transition into private life but it will also save the federal government millions of dollars in GI Bill spending.

Sestak announced the introduction of the bill while touring the several Pennsylvania universities including The University of Pittsburgh. Sestak says what he learned on the tour has resulted in another GI Bill related effort. He says veterans are telling him that when they call the GI Bill help center they are often given conflicting information, no information or are told to call their schools for the answers to their questions. Sestak says he will begin looking into training at the San Diego based call center.