The Bronx’s more than 1,700 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans will receive additional money for college as the House of Representatives provided $52 billion over 10 years yesterday in a new G.I. Bill.
The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act will allow veterans who served a minimum of three months of qualified active duty since September 11, 2001 to receive payments of up to the cost of the most expensive in-state public school — approximately $27,000 over four years in New York. The bill also provides a monthly stipend equivalent to housing costs in the area, books, and other expenses.
In New York City, 8,459 veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will benefit from the bill, including 1,710 from the Bronx. The new G.I. Bill, originally cosponsored by Rep. Anthony Weiner, also provides a dollar-for-dollar federal match for private universities that voluntarily agree to contribute added tuition sums to veterans who enroll.
The original Montgomery G.I. Bill was not able to keep up with today’s rising costs of education and living, Weiner said. For example, a veteran attending college at New York University would have nearly $150,000 in debt after already sacrificing years of service to the country.
“New York City’s veterans are true American heroes,” Weiner said. “They refused to turn their back when we needed them, and this step shows only the beginning of our respect and gratitude for their sacrifice.”

