War-Financing Bill to Include Expanded Education Benefits

Washington — The bill to finance continuing U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan includes a provision that would extend educational benefits for children of members of the military who die while on active duty.

Committees of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate agreed late yesterday evening on a final draft of the bill, which will soon go before both bodies for a vote.

The educational provision would guarantee a full scholarship at an in-state public college for all children of soldiers killed on duty, according to a news release issued by Rep. Chet Edwards, a Democrat of Texas, who wrote the provision. Those who qualify could also apply the cost of a scholarship at their most expensive in-state public college toward the cost of attending an out-of-state or private college.

Under the current GI bill, service members can transfer their education benefits to only one dependent. The new bill would extend the benefit to all children of soldiers killed on duty. —Austin Wright