House Proceeding 07-10-09 on Jul 10th, 2009 :: 0:55:50 to 0:58:00
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0:55:47 to 0:56:08( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Thompson: texas has 7 noove. mr. wamp: i continue to reserve. the chair: the gentleman from texas. mr. minutes, i would like to yield to the gentleman from cali the purposes of colloquy. the chair: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. thompson: thank you.

0:55:50 to 0:58:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Mike Thompson

0:56:09 to 0:56:29( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Thompson: i appreciate what this chairman does on behalf of vet rabs he's true friend and has done so much for so many veterans. i want you to know that i went to college on the g.i. bill and voted for the post 9/11 g.i. bill. with my experience in the g.i. bill and in school and what it did for me and mine.

0:56:30 to 0:56:51( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Thompson: i did so to ensure that all veterans would have the same access to this great educational opportunity that i had. unfortunately, today in california, california veterans are being denied this important chance to get the college education so that they can have a better future. according to the department of veterans' administration,

0:56:52 to 0:57:13( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Thompson: veterans living in california are entitled to zero dollars toward their private tuition bill. simply because california charges fees, not tuition, to attend college. so because zero tuition is charged in california, according to the v.a.'s tortured logic, zero tuition

0:57:14 to 0:57:35( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Thompson: can be paid to veterans seeking to attend private schools in california. this simple semantic difference means nearly 5,000 iraq and afghanistan veterans residing in california, veterans who served our nation honorably are not eligible to receive financial assistance to attend

0:57:36 to 0:57:56( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Thompson: the college of their choice. this is unlike every other iraq and afghanistan veteran in the other 49 states. my california colleagues and i sent a letter to the v.a. requesting the department fix this issue administratively. six weeks later, six weeks later, they sent a two-paragraph response denying

0:57:57 to 0:58:00( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Thompson: our request. this is not fair to our