The largest expansion of educational benefits for veterans in a decade is being hailed by the University of Maine System as a major step forward in providing educational services to Maine veterans and their dependents.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, also known as the Forever GI bill into law. UMaine spokesman Dan Demeritt said the bill will assist veterans and their families by removing the 15-year time limit for receiving educational benefits.
“We need to be in a position where we can help Mainers, be they veterans or working adults, transition with changes in the economy in pursuit of new credentials and new degrees by removing the expiration for GI benefits,” he said. “This bill really aligns with what we’ve come to learn about what life is like for working adults.”
Demeritt said the university system has been reaching out to Maine veterans for decades.
“We’re proud of the national recognition our campuses have received for providing exemplary service to those who have served and to continue to be part of our mission as we work on overcoming the workforce challenges that we have in our state,” he said.
In addition to assisting veterans and their dependents, the bill also expands benefits for National Guard members and reservists, as well as their dependents, and provides 100 percent eligibility to Purple Heart recipients.
About 1,000 veterans or their dependents are using Forever GI Bill benefits at Maine’s public universities.