Senate passes bill boosting veterans benefits
WASHINGTON (AP) - April 24, 2008 The 96-1 vote Thursday sends the bill to the House, despite
objections from some Republicans and President Bush. Bush has not
said he would veto the bill, but the White House and some
Republicans tried to strip out the pension for Filipino veterans
because they said the money was better spent on soldiers serving in
Iraq and Afghanistan.
That effort failed, 56-41.
The bill would make some benefits retroactive for more veterans.
It also would increase the amount of mortgage life insurance that
some disabled veterans can purchase and give severe burn injury
victims new kinds of housing benefits.
