Pelosi Statement on Congress Sending GI Bill and Unemployment Insurance to President Bush

June 27, 2008

Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today after Congress sent to the President emergency supplemental funding legislation that includes the new GI Bill of Rights and an extension of unemployment benefits. President Bush is expected to sign the legislation next week.

"Independence Day is a time to thank patriots past and present for helping achieve and maintain America's freedoms. As we approach the Fourth of July, we can be proud that we are thanking the heroes of our time--our troops and veterans--with a new GI Bill that provides a full, four-year college scholarship. With this new GI Bill, our troops and veterans will become the next ‘Greatest Generation' and help spur job creation for our economic recovery.

"This bipartisan legislation will also help create jobs and encourage economic recovery by enacting an extension of unemployment benefits for 3.8 million Americans who paid into the system and need this help. Extending unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks is not only the right thing to do for these workers, it will also help our struggling economy because every $1 in benefits generates $1.64 in new economic demand.

"I look forward to the President signing into law these two major achievements for our economy and for the American people."