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Pelosi Statement on the Trump Administration’s GI Bill Payment Failures

November 29, 2018

Contact: Ashley Etienne/Henry Connelly, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement after reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs would not repay underpaid GI Bill benefits to thousands of veterans, after months of delayed payments, repeated IT issues, missed implementation deadlines and widespread department dysfunction:

"VA has a solemn duty to ensure veterans receive the full benefits that they have earned and deserve. VA's complete failure to uphold this responsibility or provide adequate solutions showcases the Trump Administration's string of broken promises to students, veterans and their loved ones.

"Ten years ago, Democrats restored the promise of a full, four-year college education for nearly 2 million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families. Last year, Congress overwhelmingly expanded the GI Bill: improving benefits, closing eligibility gaps and increasing opportunities for Reservists, Guardsmen, Purple Heart recipients, surviving spouses and dependents. Yet today, a few weeks after Veterans Day, the gross negligence and shameful lack of accountability and oversight at VA continue to undermine these critical accomplishments and betray our promise to our nation's veterans.

"At every opportunity, the Trump Administration has undermined and undercut the vital mission of VA. The Democratic Majority will hold the Administration's feet to the fire to ensure they retroactively and fully pay benefits to every wronged student. Democrats are ready to take action to honor our veterans, whether it's addressing VA's looming budget crisis, expanding access for women veterans or continuing rigorous oversight to safeguard the four walls of VA. Today and every day, we reaffirm our sacred pledge: just as the military leaves no one behind on the battlefield, we will leave no veteran behind when they return home."

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