Reed touts new GI Bill
2:55 PM Mon, Oct 20, 2008 | Permalink
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In 1944, the GI Bill revolutionized the higher education system in this country, allowing millions of American veterans to go to college. But that was 60 years ago. Since then, the cost of a college education has skyrocketed and GI funding has struggled to keep up. That changed this summer when Congress signed "The 21st century GI Bill," an updated version of the original that offers more money and better educational benefits to veterans of the post-9/11 conflicts. "Times have changed and the bill has changed," Sen. Jack Reed told the crowd that gathered this morning at the University of Rhode Island's Providence campus to celebrate passage of the new bill. "...This will defray as much expense as possible for a veteran attending college." Reed, a beneficiary of the GI Bill himself -- the bill paid for his graduate work at Harvard -- said, "It's only fair. It's only fitting" to update the law so that today's veterans can receive the same benefit. If the veteran has served at least 10 years of active duty, the benefit is also transferable to his or her spouse or children. While GI funding comes from the federal government, the state's three public colleges, URI, Rhode Island College and the Community College of Rhode Island, say they're doing their part to help veterans make the transition back to academic life. URI, for example, started a URI Supports Student Veterans Committee a year ago. "We want to do everything we can to ensure the success of returning veterans, just as we have done after each conflict the nation has endured," said URI President Robert L. Carothers. 
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Right now in the US.... as our date of Nov 4th gets closer....
During the recent and still ongoing Wall Street Bail out mess - Given the performance of our RI elected Senators and congressman / House of Representatives members we should carefully consider writing our own name and address in on the ballot this year. Perhaps this might just send the message that we think that their performance was unacceptable/
re the presidential race please consider the following guidance from a very great man.
Words of a famous historical leader....
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.
By none other than....
Abraham Lincoln
Yes, even in RI we do still have a voice if we have the backbone to use it!
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