Congress Gets Bill Barring G.i. Payments to Schools Practicing Discrimination

Rep. Arthur G. Klein, Democrat, of New York, today introduced a bill amending the G.I. Bill of Rights, to forbid payments to schools “which purport to be non-sectarian but actually discriminate against veterans belonging to minority races or religions.” Klein’s action was prompted by a joint study on discrimination in educational institutions prepared by the Jewish War Veterans and the American Jewish Congress.

The amendment would empower the Veterans’ Administrator to hold hearings whenever a school is charged with discrimination against veterans and to attempt to eliminate the discriminatory practices by conciliation and mediation. If the school refuses to stop its discriminatory practices the Veterans’ Administrator would then suspend payments under the G.I. Bill of Rights.

Introducing the bill, Klein said: “Discrimination by an educational institution against a veteran strikes at the very heart of the democracy for which he fought. This bill may not eliminate this un-American practice but will at least stop these institutions from feeding at the public trough. There is no reason why the government should subsidize un-American practices.”