Veterans will have more opportunities to pursue higher education as a result of a bill the U.S. House of Representatives passed today. The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, co-sponsored by Rep. Kathy Castor, will give those who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars greater access and resources to our vocational and trade schools.

“Our veterans who served on active duty after Sept. 11, 2001 deserve every opportunity to attain higher education,” Castor said. “In 2008, we made sure that veterans who wanted to pursue a four-year college degree at a school such as the University of South Florida or University of Tampa had financial assistance. Now we are complementing our landmark veterans’ education bill of 2008 with more opportunities for our neighbors who served us and our country so well.

“Today’s provisions guarantee veterans who want to continue their education at vocational schools also get financial help,” Castor continued. “These brave men and women served our country with honor. Now we must ensure they can afford to learn new skills and launch successful, post-military careers.”

The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act will provide tuition reimbursements to veterans who study at vocational and trade schools. Veterans taking courses via distance learning and on-the-job training also would be eligible for tuition reimbursement. Service members also will be eligible for an annual $1,000 book allowance and living stipends.

In 2008, Castor co-sponsored a landmark GI bill that provides full, four-year college scholarships to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The bill approved today in the House – and earlier this week in the Senate – improves upon the 2008 legislation.

In addition to the GI bill, Congress has taken several steps to improve the lives of veterans, including:

* The House’s passage of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill for 2011, which provides more funding for veterans’ health care and benefits with more than 100 new claims staff to help reduce backlogs on VA cases.

* Increases in military pay and expanded TRICARE health benefits.

* Stop-loss pay. Thousands of veterans who involuntarily had their service extended on active duty between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009, were eligible to apply for retroactive supplemental payments, or “stop-loss pay.” Stop loss refers to the practice of the military forcing troops to serve beyond their separation date. In Florida, more than 6,000 soldiers and veterans are owed stop-loss pay.