YDA Veterans & Military Affairs Caucus Chair Cole Hickman just sent this email out to Young Democrats celebrating the final passage of the 21st Century GI Bill.

Dear Young Democrat,

Last night, the Senate passed the Webb-Mitchell 21st Century GI Bill by an overwhelming majority, 92 to 6. Don’t let the margin fool you, this one wasn’t easy.

Democrats Jim Webb and Harry Mitchell first introduced the legislation over a year ago, facing considerate opposition from the Republican Party, namely Senator John McCain and President Bush, this crucial bill seemed doomed to a veto.

Democrats didn’t stand down; we stood up — you stood up — for our men and women in uniform. YDA’s newly-organized Veteran’s and Military Affairs Caucus mobilized young people nationally to pressure the Republican Party into honoring our veterans. Dozens of local events, hundreds of letters to the editor, and thousands of calls to Congress later, the Democratic Congress sent the sent the veto-proof bill to the president’s desk for his signature. Once signed, the bill will provide the greatest single expansion of educational aid since the last GI Bill in 1946. This is a much needed, hard fought, and well-deserved victory — just the kind of progress we can expect from the Democratic Party.

As both a student and a veteran, I know first hand how important veterans’ benefits, especially educational benefits, are to our service men and women coming home from overseas. Today, I want to say thank you. Because of you, more veterans will get more benefits and more opportunities, and by expanding access to education and investing in future, the 21st Century GI Bill promises to strengthen our economy when it is in desperate need of help.

Today, all Americans should celebrate the passage of the Webb-Mitchell 21st Century GI Bill. The Democrats in Congress couldn’t have done it without you, and now strengthened by success, let’s deepen our commitment to electing more Democrats this fall.

Thank You for Your Support

Cole Hickman

Chair, Young Democrats of America Veteran’s & Military Affairs Caucus
President, Young Democrats of Arizona
president@ydaz.org

To get more information about the final bill, check out this fact sheet.