By John Cornyn
Guest Commentary

Following World War II, the U.S. government created a G.I. Bill to provide educational benefits for the flood of military coming home from wartime duty. Many recipients were drafted immediately after high school, interrupting their education. The G.I. Bill allowed them an opportunity, upon returning from the war, to pick up where they might have been prior to their service.

The men and women who serve today do so by choice, and their circumstances are diverse. As a result, they require a broader range of options. So Congress is currently updating the G.I. Bill to meet the requirements of our modern-day soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines.

I am proud to co-sponsor new legislation that recognizes the vital role that military families play in the support, well-being and careers of our troops. This legislation expands educational benefits for service members and, for the first time, allows benefits to be transferred to their dependents. 

In the military, it is known that “we recruit troops, but we retain families.” This legislation recognizes the critical role that supportive families play in allowing their troops to accomplish their important missions.

The Enhancement of Recruitment, Retention and Readjustment Through Education Act, S. 2938, is aimed at two distinct groups of service members—those who have completed their enlistment, and those who have decided to make military service a career.

Our legislation is unique in allowing more service members to transfer education benefits to family members, either a spouse or dependent children.

S. 2938 also increases monthly education benefits for active duty personnel, allows more service members to access Department of Veterans Affairs programs, increases benefits for members of the National Guard and Reserve, allows use of benefits to repay student loans, and creates a matching program to help more veterans graduate debt-free.

While this legislation provides a significantly higher monthly payment, it also gives service members wider choices of educational benefits and the freedom to choose those that best meet their needs.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is a former Texas Supreme Court justice and Bexar County district judge. He can be reached locally at 600 Navarro, Suite 210, or at (210) 224-7485.