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Hoekstra Votes for Bill Supporting Troops, Veterans Education Benefits, Unemployment Insurance
Washington,
Jun 19 -
U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, today voted for a bill that supports the troops without arbitrary timelines for withdrawal from the battlefield, modernizes veterans educational benefits and extends unemployment insurance.
“I have long advocated that members of the Armed Forces should have the opportunity to transfer their unused educational benefits to their immediate family members,” Hoekstra said. “They have served their nation with honor and deserve the flexibility to use their benefits how they see fit.”
The Iraq/Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations bill (H.R. 2642) authorizes a new educational benefits program for members of the Armed Services serving for 36 months since 9/11. Particularly notable about the new program is that it permits the service member to transfer the benefit to a spouse or child if the member has served at least six years in the Armed Forces and agrees to serve an additional four years. It also extends the transfer authority to members eligible to receive the existing Montgomery G.I. educational benefit.
Additionally, the bill extends federal unemployment insurance for an additional 13 weeks and includes a prior work requirement.
“With Michigan’s unemployment rate reaching 8.5 percent this week, there are clearly people who need the additional assistance,” Hoekstra said. “It will help in the short term, but Michigan needs to continue working toward long-term solutions to rebound economically and succeed in the global free market economy.”
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