WASHINGTON — Sen. Charles E. Schumer said Thursday that he will push legislation to expand higher education benefits for veterans, especially for members of the National Guard and Reserves.

In signing on to an effort by Sen. James Webb, D-Va., Mr. Schumer, D-N.Y., adds his name to a growing list of lawmakers who say the G.I. Bill has failed to catch up with the reality of combat in the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and the growing cost of college.

"We need to have a new G.I. Bill," Mr. Schumer said in a conference call with reporters.

The current G.I. Bill, a scaled-back version of the original law that paid for college for World War II veterans, pays up to $38,000 over four years, or about half the average cost of a public college education in New York, Mr. Schumer's office reported.

The legislation Mr. Schumer supports would tie G.I. Bill benefits to the amount of time served in active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, giving equal benefit to members of the National Guard and Reserves for the first time.

It would pay veterans up to the established charges of the most expensive in-state public college, plus a stipend for housing. In addition, the government would match any contributions made to a veteran from a college that charges tuition higher than the maximum assistance.

Veterans would have 15 years, instead of 10 years, to use the benefit.

Mr. Schumer said lawmakers would try to attach the measure to a war spending bill later this month. Similar efforts have taken shape in the House, led by Rep. Vic Snyder, D-Ark., and assisted by Rep. John M. McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel.