Veterans serving in active duty will get some help with college tuition when they return home.

President Bush has signed the new G.I. Bill into law that will provide benefits comparable to those World War II veterans received.

The new G.I. Bill covers the cost of any in–state college's tuition and fees for any member of the military who has served on active duty for 3 years or more since 9–11.
U–S Senator Dick Durbin says this summer Illinois will see the largest deployment of its National Guard since World War Two.

Officials say more than two–thousand–seven hundred Illinois National Guard members will deploy to Afghanistan.
Senator Dick Durbin and Illinois Veteran Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth joined veterans on Peoria's Riverfront to announce benefits under the new bill.
Durbin says the benefits will help veterans get jobs.

"I believe our guard and reserve have been called to duty more in this recent conflict than ever. We got to make sure that when they come home they have the same opportunities for better employment and increased compensation through education. So this bill will give them that chance," said Durbin.

"My dad had the G.I. Bill after World War II. His G.I. Bill allowed him to go to school, pay his rent and buy food. Since the Vietnam era the G.I. Bill had so degraded that our vets didn't even have enough money to pay for tuition, let alone buy food and I'm sorry it's hard to study when you are hungry," said Duckworth.

Also under the new G.I. Bill veterans will also get monthly stipends for housing and books.
National Guard members and reservists active in 9–11 and don't get benefits under the current Montgomery G.I. Bill get educational benefits.
Their spouses and children can also use the benefits.