All our hard work in pushing for the passage of the GI Bill for the 21st Century has finally paid off!  Today, the GI Bill passed the Senate with an overwhelming majority, 75-22. This means that Congress saw past all of the hypocritical, unfounded objections from John McCain (not to mention all the whining from Lindsey Graham) in order to provide our vets the educational benefits they deserve.

Jim Webb's GI Bill has had immense bi-partisan support all along, including the backing of Republicans Chuck Hagel and Mark Warner.  The bill would effectively provide full tuition and housing costs for vets who have joined the service since September 11, 2001 and have served three years of active duty. 

Still, McCain refused to co-sponsor the GI Bill in what has been one of the biggest hypocrises of his campaign.  McCain falsely claimed that the GI Bill would lower the military's retention rate, and joined Graham, Larry Craig, John Cornyn, Mitch McConnell, and others to offer a watered-down alternative that would only offer a modest increase in benefits to vets until they have served 12 years.    

We're proud that our efforts with WesPAC and VoteVets.org to pressure Congress have succeeded.  But our work is far from over.  Since the GI Bill passed in the House last week, it now will go to President Bush who has already vowed to veto it, despite the fact that it would make him the first president in history to deny benefits to vets.

We have to urge the President to support our vets.  Join IAVA today and please donate to the Brave New PAC so that we can keep this fight going.