Bipartisan Group of State AGs Led by Mass. AG Andrea Joy Campbell Calls on Congress to Pass Moulton’s GI Bill Restoration Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell is leading a bipartisan, multi-state call on Congress to support Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Rep. James Clyburn’s (D-SC) bill, the Sgt. Isaac Woodard, Jr. and Sgt. Joseph H. Maddox GI Bill Restoration Act of 2023.
In a new letter sent to House leadership, AG Campbell and 23 attorneys general from across the U.S. argue that Moulton’s legislation, through expanding access to homeownership and education, would help rectify past wrongs and fuel continued economic growth in communities across the country.
“We all know the GI Bill lifted up a generation of WWII veterans and built the American century. But most Americans don’t know that many Black veterans were left out: denied benefits, denied homes, denied the generational wealth that comes from going to college,” said Congressman Moulton. “While we can never fully repay those American heroes, we can fix this going forward by passing our GI Bill Restoration Act. I’m grateful for the leadership of Attorney General Campbell and support of the other AG’s who have signed on to this letter. Together we can build the momentum needed to move this important legislation forward.”
“Black Americans fought valiantly on the front lines during World War II only to be rejected benefits they rightfully deserved upon coming home,” said Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn. “The GI Bill Restoration Act of 2023 seeks to right this generational wrong by ensuring survivors and descendants of this injustice have access to the same housing and educational benefits their white counterparts enjoyed. I’m grateful for this bipartisan group of Attorneys General from states across the nation, led by Massachusetts AG Andrea Joy Campbell, for their unequivocal support of our legislation.”
“I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan coalition of attorneys general calling on Congress to extend assistance to Black veterans that were sadly denied benefits. The painful reality is that too many of our country’s institutions and policies were designed to exclude Black residents and people of color,” said Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell. “While white veterans were provided benefits through the GI Bill that led to homeownership, educational and employment assistance, many Black veterans were flat-out denied access to those same opportunities that we know are the bedrock of wealth-building and economic mobility. Simply put, the system failed Black veterans and their families, and seventy-five years later, we have an opportunity to right the wrong.”
The legislation, named in honor of two Black World War II veterans, extends eligibility for housing loans and educational assistance administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Black World War II veterans, their surviving spouses, and certain direct descendants if the veteran was previously denied benefits on the basis of race. Moulton and Clyburn reintroduced the bill in the House earlier this year.
The letter was also co-led by New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and joined by a bi-partisan coalition of the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.