Akaka Honored with National Guard EANGUS Award

By Wendy Osher

U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka.

U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka of Hawaii is being honored with an award recognizing him for advancing interests of soldiers and airmen with the United States National Guard.

The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) will honor Sen. Akaka with the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Eagle Award for 2011.

Sen. Akaka sponsored the Post 9/11 Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2010, expanding GI Bill benefits to over 131,000 National Guard members.  The legislation recognizes Title 32 service by Guardsmen to count toward Post 9/11 G.I. Bill benefits.

The National Guard will issue a similar award to colleague, Rep. Dave Loebsack from the U.S. House for his collaborative work with Sen. Akaka in introducing the National Guard Education Equality Act in 2009.  The bill sought to expand GI Benefits to more than 84,000 Guard members.  Legislative language was added in an improvement act for 2010, and the bill was singed into law on January 4th, 2011.