The Story of the GI Bill
Enactment of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944
It has been heralded as one of the most significant pieces of legislation ever produced by the Federal Government — one that impacted the United States socially, economically, and politically. But it almost never came to pass. The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 — commonly known as the GI Bill of Rights — nearly stalled in Congress as Members of the House and Senate debated provisions of the controversial bill. Some shunned the idea of paying unemployed veterans $20 a week because they thought it diminished their incentive to look for work. Others questioned the concept of sending battle-hardened veterans to…
