There is a part of the bill that continues to pay for our role in the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan that deserves the heartfelt backing of all Americans.

The new GI Bill -- an update to the landmark legislation that helped bring college education to the masses -- more than double education benefits for veterans who served after Sept. 11, 2001. The expanded benefits under the Educational Assistance Act of 2008 kicks in Aug. 1, 2009.

Helping veterans pay for college is far from a handout. Rather, it shows well-earned gratitude to the men and women who fight our wars in a way that respects the idea that they will continue to contribute to our society long after their military service is over. This is a measure that and provides for the kind of "hand up" that can both expand opportunities for veterans and help meet this nation's need for a better educated workforce.

The war funding bill signed by President Bush on June 30 includes $63 billion over 10 years for college aid for members of the post 9/11 military and veterans, increasing the total maximum benefit to $90,000 from $40,000. That's enough to pay for four years at many colleges and universities, and would go a long ways toward paying for a degree at even the more expensive private schools.

The act also covers National Guard members and reservists who have been called up for active duty since 9/11 and served at least 90 days, including approximately 2,700 Vermont Guard members activated so far. The benefits are prorated based on time served.

The education benefits included in the original GI Bill enacted for World War II veterans have been credited with giving members of the middle class broad access to post-secondary education, making college campuses across the nation a much more democratic venue.

These expanded opportunities are also credited with avoiding a sharp economic downturn following World War II, and setting the stage for both the broad economic prosperity and the technological leadership this nation enjoyed in the decades that followed, and to a large degree still enjoy today.

There are wide ranging opinions about our nation continuing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on war in Iraq and Afghanistan, but there should be no disagreements about what we owe the men and women who serve in the military in these conflicts. Increasing education benefits does the right thing by our veterans while at the same time serving the long-term interests of the nation.