Here are the top stories this week related to our soldiers here and abroad, taken from the Our Troops Newsladder.

Republicans joined Senate Democrats to pass a new GI Bill offering education benefits to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with a veto-proof majority. (rawstory.com)

With suicide attempts among patients under VA care hovering at around 1,000 per month, the VA has announced two new panels to address the problem. (marinecorpstimes.com)

Ohio State Senator John Boccieri, a Major in the United States Air Force Reserve and C-130 aircraft pilot as well as a candidate for Congress in Ohio's 16th Congressional District, will deliver the national Democratic radio address for Memorial Day on Saturday, May 24 at approximately 11:05AM.

Boccieri has served in the Reserve for 13 years and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan on four rotations during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

In his address, John reflects on the solemn holiday and the service and sacrifices made by our soldiers and military families. He also calls upon leaders in Washington to change direction on policies effecting our economy, jobs, veterans, health care, and Iraq to put America and our middle class families first again.

Audio after the fold.

Yesterday, as part of a war funding bill, by a 75-22 margin the senate passed an expanded GI Bill, which would

...cover the full cost of in-state public tuition, room, board and supplies, while encouraging private institutions to help 21st-century vets with their education bills. In contrast, the current benefit -- the Montgomery GI Bill -- is capped over four years, leading critics to argue that it's insufficient to cover the ever-rising expense of a secondary education.

The bill would also extend full education benefits to members of the National Guard and Reserves.

The current benefit allows under $40,000 over four years, not nearly enough to cover even a state school. Yet to almost half of the Republicans in the senate, including John McCain, expanding the benefit to cover four years of college for returning veterans who've served at least three years of active duty, is way too generous and would encourage people to {gasp!} leave the military to go to college. Oh the horror!

...McCain took to the Senate floor to blast the Webb-Hagel bill (S. 22) for discouraging troop retention -- a central fear for an all-volunteer military already stretched thin by two on-going conflicts.

"While I don't think anyone disagrees with the overall intent of S. 22," McCain said, "I believe we can and should do more to promote recruitment and retention of servicemen and women."

Which, as usual, is identical to the Bush position.

Backing that assertion has been the Bush administration, which shot out a letter to McCain's office Tuesday outlining the reasons it opposes the Webb-Hagel bill. Chief among them, the White House says the proposal doesn't allow service members to transfer their benefits to family. Also, the administration contends, it would encourage troops to hang up their boots to pursue educations.

Supporters of the bill, which, it should be noted include co-sponsors and Vietnam veterans Chuck Hagel and Jim Webb, as well as fellow veteran John Warner, say the increased recruitment that would result from the benefit contained within the bill, would make up for any losses.

Supporters of the Webb-Hagel bill also reject the retention criticisms, arguing that any problems with retention related to an enhanced education benefit would be overshadowed by the recruitment the benefit would promote.

"I share concerns about retention in this time of war," said Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee and a veteran of World War II. "We cannot retain those who we can't recruit."

John McCain actually did not return to Washington on Thursday to vote on the bill, but has expressed his opposition and instead has sponsored an alternate measure, one that increases monthly tuition benefits by less than the Webb/Hagel bill does and allows transferability of benefits only after a minimum of several years in service; in other words, the most generous benefits would accrue only to career military.

Interestingly, although hardly surprising, is the extent to which Republicans in the senate fled the Bush/McCain position and joined Democrats to support funding full college benefits for returning soldiers. It's especially notable to look at who was among the 25 Republican senators to do so.

Norm Coleman (R-MN)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Elizabeth Dole (R-NC)
Gordon Smith (R-OR)
Ted Stevens (R-AK)
John Sununu (R-NH)
Roger Wicker (R-MS)

In other words, 7 of the most endangered Republican incumbents in the senate, who, I'm sure know it's the right vote, but also know they're vulnerable this year and fear being targeted with ads like this one from VoteVets:

A few years ago I wouldn't have believed you if you'd told me that in 2008 it would be the Republicans running scared on military issues.

Update [2008-5-23 14:55:24 by Todd Beeton]:Notice that Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is not among the Republicans up for re-election this year who voted for the expanded GI Bill. Today, Democratic challenger Rick Noriega wasted no time in hitting Cornyn hard for refusing to vote with our veterans, launching a petition demanding that Cornyn vote to override Bush's promised veto of the bill:

Yesterday, the Senate voted 75-22 in favor of the bipartisan New GI Bill to cover full in-state tuition at public universities for veterans. This is fantastic news for our men and women in uniform, whose service should be honored with the education benefits they were promised.

Unfortunately, you are just one of 22 Senators to oppose the New GI bill that passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, and is supported by most leading veterans organizations. You've also signaled your support for a presidential veto that would block expanded benefits for veterans.

Supporting our troops is about more than photo opportunities and speeches. Our brave men and women give their all on the battlefield and they deserve our full support when they return home. We have an obligation to our veterans to ensure that they receive the same sort of education benefits that their grandparents received after World War II.

We're so close to passing the New GI Bill into law, and you still have a chance to do the right thing. I urge you to override President Bush's veto against the New GI Bill.

Sign the petition HERE.

[editor's note, by Todd Beeton]Fixed the petition link.

Those of us that have served as Non Commissioned Officers are familiar with the NCO CREED. Today John McCain insulted those of us that live by this creed:

No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as "The Backbone of the Army". I am proud of the Corps of Noncommissioned Officers and will at all times conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the Military Service and my country regardless of the situation in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit, or personal safety.

Competence is my watchword. My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind -- accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my soldiers. I will strive to remain tactically and technically proficient. I am aware of my role as a Noncommissioned Officer. I will fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role. All soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership. I know my soldiers and I will always place their needs above my own. I will communicate consistently with my soldiers and never leave them uninformed. I will be fair and impartial when recommending both rewards and punishment.

Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my soldiers. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve; seniors, peers, and subordinates alike. I will exercise initiative by taking appropriate action in the absence of orders. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned Officers, leaders!

Today John McCain responded to criticism of his absence from the Senate, as it passed (75-22) the much needed update to our GI BILL.

His insult to us after the jump:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id= 4652517&page=1

minee, seemed to give a thumbs down to bipartisan legislation that would greatly expand educational benefits for members of the military returning from Iraq and Afghanistan under the GI Bill.
Sen. McCain introduces his economic plan which includes an alternative tax code.

McCain indicated he would offer some sort of alternative to the legislation to address concerns that expanding the GI Bill could lead more members of the military to get out of the service.

I am trying my best to give him the benefit of a doubt here I really am. but 1) to be worried that expanding the aid we give to those who served the country would lead to more members getting out of the service? SO? didn't they do their part? now we are against helping them because we don't want them to leave?

I really want to give him the benefit of the doubt but his GOP colors are showing

"We are working on proposals of our own -- I'm a consistent supporter of educational benefits for the men and women of the military," McCain saidI want to make sure that we have incentives for people to remain in the military as well as for people to join the military. ... I've talked a lot about veterans' health care, so we'll continue to talk about those issues and how to care for vets. I know I can do that, having been one."

we can't sustain what we are doing and anything, that may lead to more people leaving the military is now bad.

1 of the best ways to get people to join the army was the GI bill, make no mistake its not about getting them to join, to me its about keeping them in.

I dunno,

But the bill, which would dramatically increase educational compensation for American troops, has run into some unexpected resistance, both at the Pentagon and now from McCain, who has remained silent on the issue, saying he had not studied the bill close enough.

to not support this bill and the only reason you give is that it may lead to to many people leaving the military?

They can sign up and die for the country but don't expect us to help them if they survive and come back, right John?

Please add your name to the list of over 20,000 signatures demanding John McCain co-sponsor the GI Bill for the 21st century.

SIGN the petition - CLICK HERE > > >  http://therealmccain.com/gibill/

This bill will help improve the benefits my fellow soldiers have earned after their brave service to our country. These benefits have not kept pace with the rising cost of living and educational expenses.

If Senator McCain cosponsors the GI Bill, it will signal other Republicans to do the same. The bill now has 52 cosponsors from both parties, and once it gets 60, it will pass to the President's desk.

This bill needs your help. Sign the petition to encourage John McCain to get on board. His support will encourage at least seven more Senators to follow suit.