This week, after threatening to veto the motion, President Bush signed into law the newly updated G.I. Bill as part of a $162 billion war spending bill. The new bill will increase the amount of college funding veterans can receive from two to four academic years. Each veteran will receive enough money to cover the cost of tuition at any four-year public university in his or her home state, although veterans may also use the money, up to the cost of the most expensive public four-year school’s tuition, to attend private institutions. Eligible students will also receive a monthly stipend for books and a monthly housing allowance. The new education benefits are forecasted to go into effect in mid-2009 and will be available to all service members and veterans who have served on active duty for at least 90 consecutive days since Sept. 11, 2001. The bill’s passage is expected to dramatically boost the number of veterans enrolling in college, and state universities like the University of Colorado and others are preparing for the influx by increasing on-campus support systems for veterans.

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Read this NSNS post about the GI Bill