Statement: TAPS Statement of Support for the Forever GI Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 17, 2017

ARLINGTON, Va. -– The following statement is attributable to Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS):

In cooperation with more than 25 other veteran service organizations (VSOs), the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is proud to have been part of the effort to bring forth a bill that will improve education benefits for military veterans and their families.

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 will make enduring changes to the GI Bill, by expanding education benefits for our nation’s military heroes, their dependents and their surviving family members. This ‘Forever GI Bill’ makes lasting improvements to a benefit that has been the cornerstone in providing long-term economic opportunity for our veterans and their families, and preserves the GI Bill for future generations who will soon take their turn defending our nation’s freedom. For our surviving family members, it includes important provisions that expand Yellow Ribbon benefits, increase Dependents Educational Allowance benefits and will allow families the flexibility to reallocate transferred GI Bill benefits among survivors.

While the final details of the bill are still being worked out, TAPS is grateful that the changes we’ve been seeking for the past seven years appear to be coming to fruition. We offer our full support for the Forever GI Bill, and our thanks to our nation’s leaders for the care they are demonstrating to those who serve their country with honor, as well as the families they leave behind.

ABOUT TAPS

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the national organization providing compassionate care for the families of America’s fallen military heroes and has offered support to more than 70,000 surviving family members of our fallen military and their caregivers since 1994. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free TAPS resource and information helpline at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).