The Veterans Educational Equality Act for California

2 Jun, 2009 GI Bill

In a previous post, we discussed how California currently offers zero tuition to military personnel and family attending school with the Post 9/11 GI Bill. This is because in 1960, California ruled there would be no tuition costs for their universities, instead handling educational expenses in the form of flat fees.

The 1960 ruling of education costing “fees” instead of “tuition” was meant to benefit students. California did not foresee the presentation of the Post 9/11 GI Bill and how this ruling to help their local students instead made veterans fall through a terrible loophole. While the “fees” are covered at government-operated educational institutions, private schools and universities in California that still charge tuition are not a feasible option for veterans.

In response to this, Congressman McKeon proposed on May 19th the Veterans Educational Equality Act. This Act takes the $6,586.51 allotment the VA provided to veterans to cover California fees and allow them to apply it to California fees and tuition.

For example, a military student that would have once liked to attend Stanford University would have had to face the $37,000 approximate tuition expenses with no aid. The Post 9/11 GI Bill would cover the $1,000 fee, but tuition would not be covered, due to the fact in-state colleges have a tuition cost of zero. With the Veterans Educational Equality Act, the remaining $5,586.51 set aside for fees can be applied to the tuition for the private school, lowering the cost of Stanford University to $31,413.49.

An active duty, reserve, or veteran member of the military could look at the tuition benefits by state and still recognize there are states that offer a better benefit than this. The Veterans Educational Equality Act of California does, however, permit some kind of educational benefit for local Californian military members that would like to attend a private school.

Quoted from Congressman McKeon: “California’s prohibition on tuition was meant to hold costs down, not unfairly drive them up for our state’s veterans.”

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10 Comments

Julian
June 6, 2009 • 1:31 am

Sigh, I was really looking forward to attending USC(my dream school as a kid) after my enlistment, but I guess back to the California public education system for me.
John
June 15, 2009 • 12:39 am

When will Veterans Educational Equality Act be effective in California? Will it be ready before Aug 1, 2009?
Kourtnie McKenzie
June 15, 2009 • 9:36 pm

It will more than likely not be passed by August 1, 2009. Everything in the government takes time, despite the fact California military students need this amendment yesterday.

You can track the status of the bill on Govtrack.us, here. As of June 15, 2009, it has only been referred to a committee; it has not gotten through the second of six stages yet.

There is a petition site currently to try to press the bill through legislature as fast as possible.
Jesse
June 23, 2009 • 5:42 pm

Is there anything we can do to potentially speed the process along? ie. Write congressmen, constantly call the VA ect ect.. ?
Kourtnie McKenzie
June 23, 2009 • 7:03 pm

You can find your local Congressmen through this convenient tool. You may write to your legislature asking to support The Veterans Educational Equality Act for California. More backing may expedite the process of this provision to the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

This more than likely will not make it through Congress, however, before August 1, 2009. It is so early in legislation that it’s near impossible for Californians to get reasonable benefits for the Post 9/11 GI Bill this next semester.
Wesley Covert
June 25, 2009 • 11:47 pm

This is a copy of the letter I sent to the Ca Governor’s office today June 25th 2009 concerning The Post 9/11 GI Bill in California.

Did you missed the petition? Or do you need more information before reading the content below? please go to the following websites.

Here is the publication from the CPEC (The California Postsecondary Education Commission)
http://www.cpec.ca.gov/completereports/2009reports/09-12.pdf

Here is the petition with more information
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/pass-veterans-educational-equity-act

Here is Congressman Mckeon’s press release. He started the petition and the Educational Equality Act
http://www.mckeon.house.gov/this_in_detail.aspx?NewsID=1511

To: Staff of the Governor of the State of California
Ladies and gentlemen:

My name is Wesley Covert. I sent these letters below to many influential people today, concerning the Post 9/11 GI Bill non-funding of veteran tuition/fees. I sent this letter today to Congressman Buck McKeon and then forwarded it with a second letter to national radio personalities, and my local news agencies and radio personalities. My reasons were to give them a heads up regarding this issue/problem. I then sent the letters to the Ca VA office, the California Postsecondary Education Commission, and now I am sending it to you as representatives of the Governor. Please be advised that there are probably many Californian Veterans who do not yet know they will not be covered under the new Post 9/11 GI Bill. They will know soon enough! Aware as I am of the virtual bankruptcy of this state I know you have many problems to deal with. However, when it came time for the veterans of this state to walk away from their lives to defend you we found the time! I would like to hear back from the Governor’s staff advising me of how you intend to resolve this situation. Thank you for your time.

Wesley Covert, USMC

The following example was sent to Brandon Mercer the Program Director for Fox 40 News Sacramento.

————————————————————————————————————————–

Brandon,

My name is Wesley Covert I am a Combat Veteran serving in the Marine Corps during OIF1. I will get right down to business. Congress recently approved the Post 9/11 GI Bill which should enhance educational benefits for many service members. During my application process for said GI Bill I was shocked to find out the following information.

California will not be participating in the post 9/11 GI Bill! The VA will pay E-5 BAH (Basic Housing Allowance) and yearly stipend to students. However the games of semantics begin with the term’s tuition and fees.

The California State approval agency CPEC and the VA are in a stalemate because the VA will pay fees, but not the much needed tuition, California will not make the necessary change in “semantics” and change their verbiage from tuition to fees. This problem is isolated to California. Speaking frankly this situation is confusing to me. The publication supplied by the state of California (below) describes the problem vaguely. When I contacted the VA’s Counselors hotline, the VA blames the California State Approval Agency and per the publication below, the California State Approval Agency blames the VA.

Keeping in mind that the average Veteran needs to make an irreversible decision to switch from the old GI Bill to the new Post 9/11 GI Bill, what happens to the Vet who was going to be covered this semester under the old Bill, and now their tuition will not be covered at all? Was this deception? Was this done intentionally to lure Vet’s from the old functioning GI Bill? How long do I need to pay my tuition, and will I ever be reimbursed? When will politicians put aside their childish antics and realize they are dealing not only with real people, but real people who really matter to this country?

The Californian Vets need your help.

Brandon, I’m writing you because I am confident with your help we can focus some much needed attention to this unfortunate issue. We vets need the help of news outlets like yours to bring attention to this dilemma. Thank you for your time and thank you in advanced for helping us get to the bottom of this.

This is the link to the CA Post 9/11 GI Bill publication.

http://www.cpec.ca.gov/completereports/2009reports/09-12.pdf

Here is the letter I sent to Congressman McKeon. He is responsible for the Educational Equality Act, and a petition in our support.

Post 9/11 GI Bill

Educational Equality Act

Congressman McKeon,

My name is Wesley Covert USMC. I am a combat veteran who served during OIF1.

I signed the EEA petition you started and sent it to everyone I know. Thank you for your ongoing support.

I will try to stay calm.

This problem directly affects me. I have been disappointed by the government many times. One time comes to mind when I was at camp Pendleton for the reserve recall after 9/11. During active service I was deactivated for one day. This deactivation occurred one day before my eligibility for the active duty GI Bill would start. After one day we were put right back on active duty thus denying us of what was rightfully ours. My entire battalion maybe many more were disrespected that day. Try to find the evidence? (2nd Battalion 23rd Marines 4th Marines Division)

When I found out about the Post 9/11 GI Bill I was excited because even though I lost so much due to the involuntary activation, and that disingenuous action by the military (on who’s orders?), I was relieved to know that I was going to have a second chance to succeed and get the education I had no chance for prior to my military service. The Post 9/11 GI Bill is a second chance for me my family and many like me. We are disappointed again. Our disappointment is turning into righteous anger. Is there some person who is holding this process up? How can I be put in touch with them? I’d like to let them know, maybe by forwarding the following, how they are impacting me and my family.

To the person or persons who didn’t fix the Post 9/11 GI Bill problem in a half a heartbeat, this is for you…

Vets should not have to return to a country where such semantics can impact their futures and the future of their family. This problem should have been taken care of so fast that the very Men and Women who protect you would have never known that you even considered insulting and belittling them. The very fact that you let this problem get this far says a lot about how much we are appreciated for putting our lives on the line. WHY NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM NOW AND REDEEM YOURSELVES IN THE EYES OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WILLING TO SACRIFICE THEMSELVES FOR YOU. Fix this problem now! You don’t need an Educational Equality Act to change one word. You should have made up a new word just to keep us happy if that was what it took!

Why was this covered up? Did you warn the vets who switched from the regular GI Bill? What happens to the Vets who switched from the working GI Bill? Was this a way of luring Vets away from a working system to a system that was consciously DOA. Why didn’t you warn us? You have no excuse other than being deliberately malicious. Is that possible? Would you have deliberately done this to the veterans who served you? Two million Cal Vets want to know who you are. It’s people like you who remind me of a quote I know. “Tyranny thrives best where government need not fear the wrath of an armed people…. The Second Amendment is a doomsday provision… Assuming you can never lose your freedom is a mistake a free people get to make only once.”

–Judge Alex Kozinski of the Ninth Circuit Court in Silviera v. Lockyer

Can’t you give us what is ours now! We really have fought and some have even died for it!

I would like to be personally notified that the problem is being worked on and progress is being made. If not, I will forward this letter everywhere. I will find out who you are and expose you as people ungrateful to the military in this great country!

–
Kourtnie McKenzie
June 26, 2009 • 6:58 pm

Wesley–Thank you so much for sharing the letters you sent out. These are excellent examples of what to write to Congressmen to help push the Veterans Education Equality Act for California!
Norris
July 8, 2009 • 12:36 am

I WOULD EXPECT NOTHING LESS FROM CALIFORNIA!!! I know this is all due to a loophole, but you have to find it some what comical… You joined the military, you went and fought for your country(although not everyone fought), and then you came home. Home to California the most liberal state in the Union and you get F*&$’ED IN THE A$$ when it comes to the new GI Bill. Like I said, comical!!! To top it all off they should make you pay EXTRA if you have a combat action!!!
J
July 25, 2009 • 6:11 am

Anyone else notice that the rates for California on the va web site are pending until August 1st?
kg
August 4, 2009 • 8:44 pm

Serious? I already had put in my two week notice at my job only to find out I might be getting f’d out of something… typical… crap… as usual the government likes to give it to you with non-skid up yours. This is not helping any one in California… most of us cannot afford to take the state rout going through 10 years of community college because of all the pre recs whatever NAVY – Never Again Volunteer Yourself