80th Anniversary

Boozman commemorates 80th Anniversary of Landmark GI Bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, is commemorating the 80th anniversary of the GI Bill with the introduction of a Senate resolution celebrating the impact of the policy on the lives of veterans and their families.  

“The GI Bill is a significant investment in our servicemembers. This landmark law has delivered benefits to veterans and their families for 80 years to help their transition to civilian life. It serves as an important aspect of honoring the commitment we made to the men and women who wear our nation’s uniform and I’m pleased to continue advocating for improvements to expand the education opportunities they have earned,” Boozman said.

Signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 22, 1944, the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, commonly referred to as the GI Bill, provided returning World War II veterans with a wide array of educational and housing benefits to ease their transition back to civilian life. This resolution specifically celebrates the transformative role the GI Bill has played, and highlights subsequent legislation, including the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, that has provided generations of American servicemembers with similar benefits.

During his time in Congress, Boozman has championed policies to strengthen benefits and services for veterans and their families. He authored provisions to expand non-traditional technology education programs and allow wounded members of the National Guard and Reserve to be eligible for the same GI Bill benefits as active duty members that were included in the Forever GI Bill signed into law in 2017. This legislation built on the post-9/11 GI Bill.  

In 2019, the Boozman-backed Forever GI Bill Housing Payment Fulfillment Act was signed into law to ensure veterans receive the Forever GI Bill housing benefits. 

He continues to support policies that ensure veterans receive the benefits they have earned.

The resolution was introduced by Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) along with Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT) and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS).

Full text of the resolution is available here.

Senate approves Boozman-Coons resolution commemorating 80th anniversary of D-Day

WASHINGTON – In advance of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution introduced by U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Chris Coons (D-DE), co-chairs of the Senate French Caucus, commemorating this historic operation and expressing gratitude and appreciation to the members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Allied troops responsible for carrying out this unprecedented maneuver that proved decisive in securing victory in Europe.

“It is our duty to recognize the service and sacrifice of the Allied forces members who helped turn the tide of World War II and free Western Europe from Nazi occupation. We will never forget the courage and heroism of those who took part in D-Day, including the thousands of individuals who gave their lives in support of this mission,” Boozman said. “I’m grateful the Senate approved the resolution commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion so we can pay tribute to the brave members of the Greatest Generation who changed the course of history.”

“The Normandy landings were more than a battle in World War II–they were a turning point in history when thousands of Allied soldiers gave their lives to help freedom and democracy triumph over fascism and darkness. 80 years later, the Senate is proud to remember and honor the heroism and incredible bravery of those men who stormed the beaches of Normandy and began the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi oppression,” Coons said.

In the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, 31,000 members of the United States Armed Forces, and 153,000 of their counterparts in the Allied Expeditionary Force, launched Operation Overlord by storming ashore five landing areas on the beaches of Normandy, France. The first day of the operation, which became known as D-Day, saw approximately 10,000 Allied soldiers wounded or killed, including 6,000 Americans. Operation Overlord led to Allied liberation of Western Europe from the control of Nazi Germany and an end to World War II.

Click here to read the resolution. 

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