Udall Encourages Veterans to Use New GI Bill Comparison Tool

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall encouraged veterans, service members, and their eligible dependents to use a new online GI Bill Comparison Tool launched by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The tool provides users of the Post-9/11 GI Bill with increased information about colleges, universities, and other education and training programs. This new tool will help veterans avoid scams that use misleading or predatory tactics to target veterans and their families as they strive to reach their higher education goals.

"I was proud to support the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and I am happy that this new online GI Bill Comparison Tool will allow future beneficiaries of the bill to make more informed decisions about which education and training programs will best enable them to achieve their educational goals," said Udall. "Too many of our Post-9/11 veterans have struggled with unemployment, and it's critical to ensure they can access the education and training benefits available to them. I'm pleased that the VA has created this informative tool to better support our veterans and service members, and I encourage those eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to take the time to explore their options."

According to the VA, the Online GI Bill Comparison tool is one item in a series of resources the VA is launching in response to President Obama's Executive Order 13607, which directs agencies to implement and promote "Principles of Excellence" for educational institutions that interact with veterans, service members, and their families. The tool provides key information about college affordability, combines information from more than 17 online resources and three federal agencies, and includes data about the number of students receiving VA education benefits at different schools.

The GI Bill Comparison Tool can be found at: www.gibill.va.gov . More information about Udall's work on veterans' issues is available here: http://www.tomudall.senate.gov/?p=issue&id=21 .