Boxer Praises VA Announcement of "GI Bill" Trademark

Senator Had Called for Trademark to Help Protect Veterans From Misleading Marketing and Predatory Recruiting by For-Profit Schools

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today praised the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) announcement that the phrase “GI Bill” is now a registered trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. As the sole owner of the trademark, the VA will be able to prevent the phrase from being misused by for-profit schools in deceptive ads and recruiting materials that target veterans seeking to use their GI Bill education benefits.

Senator Boxer said, “I am so pleased that ‘GI Bill’ is now a registered trademark of the VA. This is an important step toward ending the predatory practices that for-profit schools use to target our veterans and ensuring that veterans have access to accurate, comprehensive information about their education benefits.”

Senator Boxer has been a leader in the effort to stop for-profit schools from misleading veterans about how they can use their GI Bill education benefits. In March, she led a group of 14 Senators in asking VA Secretary Eric Shinseki to file a trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the phrase “GI Bill” to combat this growing problem. In April, President Obama directed Secretary Shinseki to proceed with trademarking the phrase.

Senator Boxer also previously introduced the GI Bill Protection Act of 2012, which would give the phrase “GI Bill” the same statutory protection as terms such as “American Veterans,” and the names of federal benefit programs like “Medicare” and “Social Security.” The measure has been endorsed by the Military Officers Association of America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

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