Cornyn Failed Our Troops

Written by: Tegan R on Jun 2, 2008 11:50 AM EDT

Linked to campaigns: Rick Noriega for US Senator from Texas

(Press Release from Rick Noriega's campaign, May 22, 2008.)

HOUSTON, TX – U.S. Senate candidate and Texas State Representative Rick Noriega, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Texas Army National Guard, applauded the Senate passage of the bipartisan Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Act which would cover full in-state tuition at public universities for veterans.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), however, failed to support the bipartisan GI bill that passed the House of Representatives and the Senate and is supported by most leading veterans organizations. Cornyn was one of only 22 Senators to oppose the bipartisanly supported bill and on the Senate floor he went a step further signaling his support for a presidential veto of the expanded benefits for veterans.

"Senator Cornyn's vote is an insult to our troops who have sacrificed so much to serve our country. Texas families deserve better,” said Rick Noriega. "Supporting our troops is about more than photo opportunities and speeches. Our brave men and women give their all on the battlefield and they deserve our full support when they return home. But today John Cornyn voted against a GI bill that would ensure our veterans receive the same sort of education benefit that their grandparents received after World War II.  Worse yet, Cornyn signaled his support for a presidential veto, which would rob a large and deserving group of veterans of the tools they need to succeed in civilian life after serving our nation.”

U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) joined 74 of her Senate colleagues in supporting the GI bill.

"Texas needs two Senators who will stand up for Texas families. In my ten years serving in the Texas State House I fought for our veterans and I will continue to fight to ensure our troops and veterans get the support they deserve in the U.S. Senate,” added Noriega.

Cornyn's Record of Shortchanging Our Troops and Veterans

• In May 2003, Cornyn voted against an amendment that would allow a 50 percent tax credit on the salaries employers pay workers who are in the National Guard or Reserves and have been put on active duty. [Vote 163, 5/15/03]

• In 2005 Cornyn voted against bringing to vote an amendment that would ensure that funding for the Veterans Health Administration takes into account changes in inflation [S AMDT 1937 to HR 2863].

• In the same year he voted against bringing to vote an amendment that would have appropriated $500 million annually from 2006-2010 for counseling, mental health, and rehabilitation services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance use disorder [S AMDT 2634 to S 2020].

• In 2006 Cornyn received a grade of D- by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and a rating of 60 by the Disabled American Veterans.

• In 2007 he voted against the Webb Amendment that would have mandated minimum intervals between deployments for troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. It would have required that soldiers spend as much time at home as they do deployed in a combat zone (S AMDT 2909 to S AMDT 2011 to HR 1585, Vote #241, 7/11/07).

• In July 2007, he voted against an amendment that would have limited the length of troop deployments in Iraq, with certain exceptions, beginning 120 days after enactment. It would have limited the deployment of soldiers in the Army and Army National Guard to 12 consecutive months. [HR 1585, Vote #243, 7/11/07]

The Webb 21st Century GI Bill

• 58 Senate cosponsors, including 11 Republicans, and 295 House cosponsors, including 91 Republicans).
•  

• Extends educational benefits for all servicemembers, including activated National Guard and Reservists, who serve at least three months of active duty since 9/11.

• Benefits are increased from a flat rate to:

         1. The cost of educational expenses up to the most expensive public four-year college in the state; and
         2. A monthly stipend equal to local housing costs.

• Veterans receive the full, four-year benefit for 36 months or more of active duty, and a pro-rated benefit for active duty less than 36 months but more than 3 months.

• Gives Guard and Reservists full credit for cumulative total of all active duty, rather than only crediting them for their longest tour as in current law.

• Matches dollar-for-dollar scholarships made to veterans by institutions with tuitions above the maximum benefit.

• Benefits for veterans are a tiny cost of the war.  The annual cost of doing right by our veterans by passing the 21st Century GI Bill is about the same as a week of war in Iraq.

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