California Attorney General Rob Bonta has taken a stand for U.S. veterans and their families by filing an amicus brief in the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The brief, submitted in the case of Yoon v. Collins, advocates for veterans who have served a single unbroken period of military service and are eligible for both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill to receive educational benefits from both programs.
"Veterans earn educational benefits when they serve our country. This is part of the deal. Military families rely on the promised educational benefits to support their families and rejoin the civilian life that they have helped protect," stated Attorney General Bonta. He emphasized California's commitment to its 1.3 million veterans, asserting that denying these benefits breaks promises made to those who served.
The G.I. Bill has been a crucial part of supporting veterans since World War II, providing education and training opportunities as well as financial support for tuition, books, supplies, counseling, and living expenses. Over time, Congress has expanded these benefits through measures like the Montgomery G.I. Bill in 1984 and the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill in 2008.
The attorneys general involved argue that Congress intended for expansive education benefits to be available to veterans under both programs regardless of their service periods. They highlight how limiting these entitlements affects states' abilities to assist veterans transitioning back into civilian life.
In addition to federal benefits, California offers state programs through the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet). In 2023 alone, significant numbers of California veterans achieved higher education degrees due to such support.
Attorney General Bonta is not alone in this effort; he joins attorneys general from multiple states including Virginia, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, among others.
Bonta's advocacy extends beyond this brief. In 2023 he supported a veteran’s Supreme Court challenge against a ruling by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs which limited his educational benefits under the G.I. Bill despite his extensive service record. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing use of accrued educational benefits up to a cap.
A copy of the amicus brief is publicly available for further review.