that is eric shinseki, joined by vice president joe biden, and senator jim webb, and president obama -- marking the new g.i. bill, the first since 9/11. it provides education benefits to veterans. that is live coverage here on c- span. >> through this most comprehensive veterans' education benefits package -- the most since the g.i. bill of world war ii. the courageous men and women in uniform have shouldered significant responsibilities for our country. this new g.i. bill clearly demonstrates the nation's respect and appreciation for your service and sacrifice. it is also our commitment to them that they are our best hope for future leadership in this country. the maximum benefit allows every eligible service member and a veteran the opportunity to receive a fully-funded undergraduate education at any state college or university anywhere in the united states or its territories. it includes a monthly housing allowance and annual book allowance, editorial assistance , and educational tuition and fees. eligible service members can also elect to transfer their benefits to their spouse o

we'll also hear from eric shinseki and president obama. this is about 40 minutes. >> it is an honored have you with us today and is an honor for us to host this important celebration. earlier this year, george mason was privileged to be one of the many colleges and universities across the nations to commit itself to the yellow ribbon enhancement program. a provision of the post 9/11 g.i. bill of 2008, this initiative is designed to extend higher education funding for servicemen and women who served after the september 11, 2001 attacks. i know that members of that day still remain in all of our hearts. shock, horror, a tragedy. from the dust and debris of that attack emerged men and women we honor today with this important legislation. each year are military and veterans' office serves 1000 active duty, reserve, national guard, and veteran students. provides them with assistance in academic counseling. just as important, this office tells our military men and women adapt for military life to collegiate life, connect with other veterans, and

. >> reporter: when va secretary eric shinseki was nominated by president barack obama, he told congresst was a priority to reduce the number of backlogged claims. today, some 400,000 cases are still pending. >> if you were to walk into one of our rooms where adjudication or decisions are being made about disability for veterans, you would see individuals sitting at a desk with stacks of paper that go up halfway to the ceiling. >> reporter: the flood of claims keeps coming, and they're growing more complex wish issues like traumatic brain injury, so many new vets are suffering. from fiscal year 1999 to 2008, the va processed 60% more claims, but the number of claims still pending jumped 65%. simply put, claims are coming in faster than they can be processed. president obama is promising to help. >> cut those backlogs, slash those wait times, deliver your benefits sooner. >> reporter: the va turned down our request for an interview. they did tell us they're trying to improve efficiency, but with two wars, claims continue to mount. elliott miller a veteran himself, helps other vets with th

today at a town hall hosted by pennsylvania senator arlen specter, and veterans affairs secretary eric shinseki. the latter, by the way, we invited to appear on this program many, many times, with no success. alongside specter in philadelphia, the secretary of's message came down to seven words. we're working as fast as we can. >> it's not just a matter of taking 131,000 homeless veterans off the streets. we have to go after education. we have to go after drugs -- jobs, we have to go after substance abuse, we have to go after mental health issues, and unless we're solving and attacking all of those things, homelessness is just -- continues to be the end state. so we have to do all of that. >> many our town halls are taking place across the country today. besides pennsylvania, we're watching florida, virginia and texas, and when i say we, i mean cnn's jessica yellin as well. she's in washington. hey, jessica. >> reporter: i've been keeping my eye on the town halls that represented alan boyd has been holding. he's a blue dog democrat who came out today saying he is not in support of that one hous

secretary of veterans affairs, a hero in his own right, generic shinseki and i want -- general eric shinseki and i want everybody to plesac knowledge him. we have senator chuck hagel. bobby scott. representative peter king. all of them worked hard along with the dell gation. i want to pay tribute to the veterans who are pursuing their dreams by pursuing an education. obviously i'm honored to be here to renew our commitment to enis that your the men and women who wear the uniform of the -- ensure that the men and women who wear the uniform of the united states. i'm committed to working with secretary shinse everyone ki to make sure that it is implemented as president. we do this not just to meet our moral obligation to those who sacrificed greatly on behalf of the country. we do it because these men and women must now be prepared to lead our nation the peaceful pursuit of economic leadership in the 21st century. this generation of service men and women has already earned a place of honor in american history. each of them signed up to serve. even after they knew they would be sent into harm's

that word today from veterans affairs secretary eric shinseki, who spoke at a philadelphia town hall hosted by senator arlen specter. he says the department is getting a 15% increase in its 2010 budget and he promised to modernize the va for the 21st century. cnn pentagon correspondent barbara starr has a look now at a program for troubled vets trying to find their way back after coming home. >> reporter: wolf, we're here at a homeless camp that has sprung up under one of l.a.'s busy freeways. this city has the largest population of homeless veterans in the country, about 15,000, many from the vietnam war but now the first young troubled vets from iraq and afghanistan are beginning to appear. you know, it kind of helps me forget about anything, helps me stay calm. >> reporter: a calm far from sergio's combat duty in iraq. he served as a marine in the 2003 invasion. >> we have apricots here. >> reporter: sergio, now 28, says he came home from war with posttraumatic stress. he wound up in jail for possession of drug, and when he was released, he had nowhere to go. sergio came here, to

. >> reporter: when va secretary eric shinseki was nominated by president barack obama, he told congressklogged claims. today, some 400,000 cases are still pending. >> if you were to walk into one of our rooms where adjudication or decisions are being made about disability for veterans, you would see an individual sitting at a desk with stacks of paper that go up halfway to the ceiling. >> reporter: the flood of claims keeps coming, and they're growing more complex with issues like traumatic brain injury so many new vets are suffering. from fiscal year 1999 to 2008, the va processed 60% more claims but the number of claims still pending jumped 65%. simply put, claims are coming in faster than they can be proce processed. president obama is promising to help. >> cut those backlogs, slash those wait times, deliver your benefits sooner. >> reporter: the va turned down our request for an interview. they did tell us they're trying to improve efficiency. but with two wars, claims continue to mount. elliott miller, a veteran himself, helps other vets with their paperwork. >> new claims in and t