It's often hard for soldiers who are returning home from Iraq to re-acclimate to normal life. Sgt. Theresa Joloff with the 116th Infantry Brigade in Staunton says many of the members of the National Guard joined at a young age, and were not ready for the commitment of college.

Joloff says, "A lot of us soldiers, we joined either our junior years of high school or straight out of high school. So you get involved in the National Guard and then you settle into families and you know you find yourself forgetting about the education."

A bill proposed by Senator Jim Webb would help soldiers to pay for college or any other type of education they want to pursue. Staff Sgt. Nathan Shaw thinks it's time for lawmakers, and the country, to give back to the troops.

He says, "A lot of people don't know the sacrifices they've went through across seas, whether it's Kosovo, Iraq, wherever. They've made a sacrifice and I think we should honor that sacrifice by giving them an education."

While the National Guard already has programs to help people pay for their education, the new bill would offer even more assistance.

Shaw adds, "I think it’s a wonderful gesture on their part to step this up and offer the soldiers more. I can't speak enough for that. That's outstanding."

This bill was designed to resemble a GI bill that came about after World War II that paid for soldiers’ tuition, books and gave them a monthly stipend.

This new bill passed the house Thursday with a vote of 256 to 166. However, it still has to pass the Senate, which is expected to happen next week.