Assembly Resolution No. 797

BY: M. of A. Hyndman

COMMEMORATING the 81st Anniversary of the Signing
of "GI Bill of Rights"

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to celebrate the 81st
Anniversary of the signing of the GI Bill of Rights; and

WHEREAS, GI Bill Act of June 22, 1944 (Servicemen's Readjustment Act
(GI Bill of Rights) put higher education within reach of millions of
veterans of World War II and later military conflicts; and

WHEREAS, The GI Bill of 1944 is called "one of the greatest pieces
of legislation in American history"; and

WHEREAS, The GI Bill of Rights or Servicemen's Readjustment Act of
1944 provided for college or vocational education for returning World
War II veterans as well as one-year of unemployment compensation; it
also provided for returning veterans to buy homes and start businesses;
and

WHEREAS, The GI Bill is considered by some to be the last piece of
New Deal legislation; however, the bill which President Franklin D.
Roosevelt initially proposed was not as far reaching; the GI Bill was
created to prevent a repeat of the Bonus March of 1931 and a relapse
into the Great Depression after World War II ended; and

WHEREAS, The American Legion is essentially responsible for many of
the bill's provisions; the Legion managed to have the bill apply to all
who served in the United States armed forces, including
African-Americans and women; and

WHEREAS, Many of the provisions were controversial; the GI Bill paid
for the G.I.S entire education encouraged many universities across the
country to expand enrollment; another provision was known as 52-20; this
enabled former servicemembers to receive $20 once a week for 52 weeks a
year while they were looking for work; under 20% of the money set aside
of the 52-20 Club (as it was known) was given out; most returning
servicemembers quickly found jobs or pursued higher education; and

WHEREAS, Another provision allowed for low interest home loans for
servicemembers which enabled millions of American families to move out
of urban apartments and into suburban homes; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 81st Anniversary of the "GI Bill of Rights of 1944"; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The American Legion.