President George Bush signed legislation June 30 that guarantees far greater educational benefits for veterans. The new GI Bill, officially named the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act, passed both houses of Congress earlier in the month. Starting in August 2009, veterans will be entitled to receive up to $90,000 over 36 months for college tuition, room and board.

The current legislation, championed by Sens. Jim Webb, D-Va., Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., John Warner, R-Va., and Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., will provide more than $62 billion over 10 years in college funding for veterans. The new bill provides veterans who served in the military for at least three years full tuition at any in-state public college or university, along with monthly housing stipends and cash allowances for textbooks. Benefits can also be used at private schools.

Besides providing equality among active-duty, National Guard and reserve members, the bill eliminates the need for each service member to pay $1,200 as an "entry fee" for the benefits. Those who have paid into the current Montgomery GI Bill will not receive refunds, but they will qualify for the new GI Bill. Everyone who has served on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, will receive the new educational benefits.

The measure includes a provision that allows veterans who served at least 10 years to transfer some or all of their educational benefits to spouses or children. Service members earn such transferability for their spouses after six years of active duty, and for their children after 10 years.