A proposal in Congress would impose a new $2,400 fee on troops who want to sign up to get the GI Bill after discharge.

The idea is being considered by the House Veterans Affairs Committee next Wednesday at a hearing. (See update below.)

The nation’s veterans groups appear to be steaming about the proposed change.

“We are still a nation at war. We have troops actively engaged in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and now in Syria,” said leader of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Brian Duffy, in an issued statement.


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“The war on terrorism is not over! Congress’ focus should be on defeating our enemies and ending the war, not cutting the benefits of those who are fighting it.”

The VFW has proposed a hashtag campaign: #NoTaxOnTroops

The folks over at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America — who are enjoying the current version of the generous post-9/11 GI Bill — are equally irate.


“Yep. Just when you thought things in DC couldn’t get any stupider! #IAVA will again fight like hell to #DefendTheGIBill,” wrote Paul Reickhoff, chief executive of the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans group, on his Facebook page.

“Especially in a time of war. Join us and spread the word. This is shameful,” he added.

Prior to 2009, troops had the option of paying into the Montgomery GI Bill, a benefit created during peacetime that came with a $1,200 non-reimbursable enrollment fee.

The new proposal would offset taxpayer cost for the GI Bill by about $3.1 billion over the next 10 years, according to news reports.


As is, the GI Bill is expensive: The U.S. government paid out an estimated $42 billion between 2009 and 2014.

Update, April 21:

According to a VFW spokesman, this bill does not yet have a sponsor.

Today, the House veterans’ committee announced that it postponed the April 26 subcommittee hearing where this proposal was scheduled to be discussed.


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