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GI Bill of Rights HR 648: Support Persian Gulf Vets

By David Cline

WASHINGTON, DC — Calling on Congress to "commit ourselves to alleviating the pain and economic hardship" caused to American families by the Persian Gulf conflict, Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY) on January 24, 1991, introduced H.R. 648 — a $6 billion measure to assist families of troops deployed to the war with Iraq and to provide special benefits to returning G.I.'s.

Congressman Rangel said he introduced the measure, entitled the PERSIAN GULF G.I. BILL OF RIGHTS, in order to allow the American people 'to show our support for our troops and their families." Because the majority of military men and women on active duty in the Persian Gulf have families with incomes near or below the poverty line, the call-up has caused economic hardship on the families left behind," Congressman Rangel said. "In my office alone, there has been a dramatic increase in phone calls and letters and families seeking help."

The bill would set aside $1 billion to provide economic assistance to families of members of the Armed Forces on active duty in the Persian Gulf. The fund, administered by the American Red Cross or some other non-profit organization, could be used to assist dependent families for payment of rent or mortgage, food, clothing, child care, fuel and other payments.

For G.I.'s returning from at least 30 days service in the Gulf, the measure would authorize payment of a one-time bonus of $10,000 upon discharge from the military. With an estimated 430,000 Americans deployed to the Gulf, this provision would have an estimated price tag of more than $4 billion.

To ease re-entry of Iraq war veterans, the Persian Gulf G.I. Bill of Rights, would appropriate an additional $1 billion to carry out special programs in employment training; drug, alcohol and family counseling; and health care for physical and other disabilities incurred while serving in the Persian Gulf area. The plan would also provide special housing loan benefits to enhance existing veterans programs. A final provision of the bill would offer job protection for Reservists activated for service in the Gulf by providing re-employment rights to the jobs they left behind.

"The cost of this proposal would roughly equal what we are paying for one week of war," Congressman Rangel said. "I am urging my colleagues to act on this bill, to let our troops know that we are really concerned about their welfare and that of their families. Let no one say that this Congress subjected our returning warriors, or their families, to the shelters of the homeless and the addict population, or to the dark realm of the hopeless."