House race puts GI Bill in spotlight

As college tuition climbs and military recruitment levels drop, Republican Congressman Virgil Goode on Tuesday added his name to a bill that would increase education benefits for veterans.

“I’m for expanded GI benefits for veterans,” Goode said.

Though high-profile GI bills have been circulating on the Senate and House floors for weeks, Goode’s signature comes just five days after his opponent in the upcoming congressional election publicly called on the 5th District incumbent to show support for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan by co-sponsoring the bill.

“I would have been one of the first to sponsor this important bill, but I applaud Representative Goode for coming around on this issue,” Democrat Tom Perriello said.

On May 7, Perriello’s campaign released a statement calling for Goode to take a stand for veterans.

“As Memorial Day approaches, the best way to celebrate our brave service men and women who have laid their lives on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan is by fulfilling our moral obligation to those who have served,” the memo quoted Periello as saying. “We need a new GI Bill for our veterans and returning troops that guarantees them the best health care and education services America can provide.”

The memo went on to point out that Goode hadn’t signed the House version of the strongly supported bipartisan bill spearheaded by U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., and urged him to do so.

“Part of the cost of war is taking care of our veterans,” Perriello said early Tuesday morning, before learning that Goode had signed the bill. “What I think is ridiculous is that Goode hasn’t co-sponsored it.”

Other supporters of bill include U.S. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., and Democratic senatorial candidate Mark Warner. The bill would authorize a 3.9-percent pay increase for military personnel to take effect Jan. 1 and would essentially guarantee a full-ride scholarship to any in-state public university, along with a monthly housing stipend, for individuals who serve the military for at least three years.

Goode said Tuesday he planned on supporting all bills dealing with GI funding, including another one on the floor sponsored primarily by Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., which differs in a variety of capacities from the Webb-sponsored bill. Burr’s bill has garnered support from presidential candidate John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

Goode said based on what he’s heard from other members, he believes Secretary of Defense Robert Gates prefers the Burr version.

“The Webb bill is best for recruitment and they say the Burr bill is best for retention,” the congressman said. “I’m for both recruitment and retention, so there may be able to be a blend.”

The Pentagon, McCain, Florida Representative Adam Putnam and some other Republicans in Congress say that Webb’s approach goes beyond rewarding military service to actually creating incentives to leave military service, according to the Washington Bureau of Media General News Service.

The bill backed by Burr, Graham and McCain is depicted as being structured in such a way to kick in additional rewards for longer service, the bureau reports. The greatest benefits, including allowing the transfer of some educational benefits to family members, would be extended to those who remained in service at least six years.

Veterans’ organizations including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America have all shown strong support of the Webb-sponsored bill.

Many on their Web sites note that it takes current costs of education into consideration, and provides aid to National Guard members who are on active duty.

Both bills are looped into a bill providing supplemental funding for the Iraq war as a whole, explained Perriello spokesperson Jessica Barba. Though a congressman sponsors a GI bill, she explained, “he might vote against the supplemental bill for other reasons,” which would prevent the GI bill from passing.

Congress may vote on these bills this week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Sarah Arkin at or (434) 791-7983.