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Statement by the Press Secretary on War Funding Bill
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary June 19, 2008

Statement by the Press Secretary on War Funding Bill

ÿÿWhite House News


President Bush understands that military families throughout our country
are making great sacrifices as their loved ones serve at home and abroad.
Throughout his Administration, he has been committed to ensuring that our
service members and their families receive the highest level of support
from our grateful Nation. After many of America's service members requested
the ability to transfer unused GI education benefits to their family
members, President Bush called on Congress in his 2008 State of the Union
to fulfill their important request.

Throughout the past five months, President Bush and members of his
Administration have worked hard to ensure that an expansion of GI benefits
includes transferability. Yesterday, House leaders reached a bipartisan
agreement on a supplemental war funding bill that would deliver critical
support to our men and women in uniform. The President is pleased that
Congress answered his call to ensure that military families will soon be
able to transfer their unused education benefits to their spouse or
children. This legislation will build upon the GI Bill's historic legacy of
ensuring brighter futures for service members and their families. We urge
both the House and Senate to immediately pass this bipartisan agreement.

President Bush also continues to call upon Congress to support his other
initiatives which would strengthen support for our military families,
including expanding access to childcare, creating new authorities to
appoint qualified spouses into civil service jobs, and providing education
opportunities and job training for military spouses. President Bush
strongly believes that these additional measures will help further
demonstrate America's strong appreciation for the sacrifices of America's
service members and their families.

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