Sunday, July 24, 2011

House Vote on H.R.1383


MilVets,

The House will vote on an amended version of H.R. 1383 at noon on Monday July 25th. The problem with this amended version is that it lists a 04 JAN inclusion date versus the original 01 APR inclusion date.  This current bill will exclude all veterans that matriculated in the spring 2011 semester (50 at Columbia alone). This means that all veterans who entered Columbia this past Spring will not fall under the proposed grandfather clause.  We need to get the House to correct the date and send the bill back to the Senate for them to re-vote and pass it before 01 AUG. Not only for our most recent students, but for all student-veterans who will be left out of this legislation.

We are asking that all past and present Columbia University student-veterans phone and email their Congressmen, Senators, Chairman Miller's office, and the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.  Below is recommended language for each one in order of priority. Feel free to copy cut and paste or use them as a model.

Recommended Language:
1. Email to House Veterans' Affairs Committee

2. Email to home district Congressman
3. Email to Senator Schumer
4. Email to Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
5. Email to home Senator

6. Respective email addresses and phone numbers.


1. Email to House Veterans' Affairs Committee:

"Chairman Miller,

I am a veteran and currently attending college on the post-9/11 GI Bill.  Thank you for fighting for my GI Bill benefits.  I learned that the House will vote on an amended version of H.R. 1383 on tomorrow at noon.  Because this amended version lists a new eligibility date it stands to force me and hundreds of my fellow veterans into financial distress and having to drop out of college.

I urge you to protect the intent of your bill and issue a manager's amendment to the bill before tomorrow's vote.  Please reinstate the original inclusion date of April 1st, 2011 and send the bill back to the Senate.  My academic career and that of my fellow student veterans is at stake and I am calling on you to stand with us.  

Thank you for your support in this extremely urgent matter!

- MilVet Name"


2. Email to home district Congressman:

Subject:  URGENT - H.R.1383 To Force Vets Out Of College If Not Amended

"Congressman XXXXXX:

I am a veteran from your district and currently attending college on the post-9/11 GI Bill.  I learned that the House will vote on an amended version of H.R. 1383 on tomorrow at noon.  Because this amended version lists a new eligibility date it stands to force me and hundreds of my fellow veterans into financial distress and having to drop out of college.

Please help me urge Chairman Jeff Miller to protect the intent of H.R. 1383 and amend the bill before tomorrow's vote.  All he needs to do is reinstate the original inclusion date of April 1st, 2011 and send the bill back to the Senate.  My academic career and that of my fellow student veterans is at stake and I am calling on you to stand with us.  

Thank you for your support in this extremely urgent matter!

- MilVet Name"


3. Email to Senator Schumer:

"Senator Schumer:

I am a veteran from NY and currently attending Columbia University on the post-9/11 GI Bill.  I learned that the House will vote on an amended version of H.R. 1383 on tomorrow at noon.  Because this amended version lists a new eligibility date it stands to force me and hundreds of my fellow veterans into financial distress and having to drop out of college.

Please help me urge Chairman Jeff Miller to protect the intent of H.R. 1383 and amend the bill before tomorrow's vote.  All he needs to do is reinstate the original inclusion date of April 1st, 2011 and send the bill back to the Senate.  Please support this measure and vote yes for the amended bill when it returns to the Senate.  My academic career and that of my fellow student veterans is at stake and I am calling on you to stand with us.  

Thank you for your support in this extremely urgent matter!

- MilVet Name"


4. Email to Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee:

"Chairwoman Murray,

I am a veteran and currently attending college on the post-9/11 GI Bill.  Thank you for fighting for my GI Bill benefits.  I learned that the House will vote on an amended version of H.R. 1383 on tomorrow at noon.  Because this amended version lists a new eligibility date it stands to force me and hundreds of my fellow veterans into financial distress and having to drop out of college.

I urge you to protect the intent of the original bill and support a House amendment to it.  Without Chairman Miller reinstating the original inclusion date of April 1st, 2011 and sending the bill back to the Senate my academic career and that of my fellow student veterans will be in jeopardy.  Please support the amended bill when it returns to the Senate.  

Thank you for your support in this extremely urgent matter!

- MilVet Name"


5. Email to home Senator:

"Senator XXXXXXX:

I am a veteran from your state and currently attending college on the post-9/11 GI Bill.  I learned that the House will vote on an amended version of H.R. 1383 on tomorrow at noon.  Because this amended version lists a new eligibility date it stands to force me and hundreds of my fellow veterans into financial distress and having to drop out of college.

Please help me urge Chairman Jeff Miller to protect the intent of H.R. 1383 and amend the bill before tomorrow's vote.  All he needs to do is reinstate the original inclusion date of April 1st, 2011 and send the bill back to the Senate.  Please support this measure and vote yes for the amended bill when it returns to the Senate.  My academic career and that of my fellow student veterans is at stake and I am calling on you to stand with us.  

Thank you for your support in this extremely urgent matter!

- MilVet Name"


6. Here are the respective email addresses and phone numbers.  

- Write your Congressman (email and phone #) https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

at

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