[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 731 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 731

  To reduce the cost of operating the military service academies, to 
establish a program of college scholarships to assist the education of 
  students in exchange for service in the Federal Government, and to 
                 increase Montgomery GI Bill benefits.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 2, 1993

Mr. Owens introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to 
         the Committees on Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To reduce the cost of operating the military service academies, to 
establish a program of college scholarships to assist the education of 
  students in exchange for service in the Federal Government, and to 
                 increase Montgomery GI Bill benefits.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Patriots of Peace 
Service Act of 1993''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Purpose.
Sec. 4. Definitions.
   TITLE I--REDUCTION IN THE COSTS OF OPERATING THE MILITARY SERVICE 
                               ACADEMIES

Sec. 101. Findings.
Sec. 102. Reduction in the costs of operating the military service 
                            academies.
Sec. 103. Sense of Congress on use of savings.
                TITLE II--PATRIOTS OF PEACE SCHOLARSHIPS

Sec. 201. Scholarship program established.
Sec. 202. Eligibility for selection as a National Security Scholar.
Sec. 203. Selection of National Security Scholars.
Sec. 204. Elements of scholarship.
Sec. 205. Scholarship contract.
Sec. 206. Required course of instruction.
Sec. 207. Information provided by the Secretary of Defense.
Sec. 208. Breach of contract.
   TITLE III--MONTGOMERY GI BILL BENEFITS FOR ENLISTED MEN AND WOMEN

Sec. 301. Elimination of contribution requirement.
Sec. 302. Increase in the amount of Montgomery GI Bill educational 
                            assistance payments.
Sec. 303. Increase in number of educational assistance payments.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The access to a quality education is central to the 
        economic strength and national security of the United States, 
        and national security begins at home--with an educated 
        citizenry.
            (2) Many secondary school students who choose to apply for 
        admission to one of the military service academies or for a 
        Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship do so because they 
        lack the financial resources to afford a quality college 
        education rather than out of a desire to enter the Armed 
        Forces.
            (3) These students are very patriotic and would willingly 
        serve the United States in other ways of value to themselves 
        and to society.
            (4) Many of these students would rather serve their country 
        in a nonmilitary capacity.
            (5) There is a shortage of qualified college graduates 
        available to work for the Federal Government.
            (6) Many college graduates are unable to afford to seek 
        employment with the Federal Government due to their student 
        loan indebtedness resulting from several years of college 
        education.
            (7) There should be an option for those students who are 
        willing to commit to a number of years of nonmilitary 
        government service to receive an education comparable in 
        quality to that available through the military service 
        academies.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act--
            (1) to provide full scholarships and living expenses to 
        certain students to attend institutions of higher learning as 
        an alternative to attending a military service academy;
            (2) to provide these scholarships at the same or lower cost 
        to the Federal Government than providing educational assistance 
        through a military service academy; and
            (3) to provide a guaranteed source of qualified 
        professionals to work for a specified number of years in the 
        service of the United States as a civilian employee of the 
        Federal Government.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act:
            (1) The term ``Member of Congress'' means a United States 
        Senator, a Member of the House of Representatives, a Delegate 
        to the House of Representatives, or the Resident Commissioner 
        from Puerto Rico.
            (2) The term ``institution of higher learning'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 3452(f) of title 38, United 
        States Code.
            (3) The term ``military service academy'' means the United 
        States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, or 
        the United States Air Force Academy.

   TITLE I--REDUCTION IN THE COSTS OF OPERATING THE MILITARY SERVICE 
                               ACADEMIES

SEC. 101. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The average cost to the United States of the attendance 
        of a student at a military service academy for four years is 
        $210,000.
            (2) The cost referred to in paragraph (1) includes the cost 
        of pay and allowances, tuition, room, board, books, laboratory 
        fees, computers, clothing, travel, equipment, recreation, music 
        development, military training, and other costs associated with 
        preparing the students to become well-educated officers in the 
        Armed Forces.
            (3) The cost of an education varies greatly between the 
        three military service academies, and the cost to the United 
        States of providing an education at the least expensive 
        military service academy, the United States Air Force Academy, 
        is still two to three times higher than the average cost to a 
        student to attend any other institution of higher learning in 
        the United States.
            (4) The cost referred to in paragraph (1) is excessive and 
        for the purpose of efficient use of Federal tax revenues must 
        be reduced.

SEC. 102. REDUCTION IN THE COSTS OF OPERATING THE MILITARY SERVICE 
              ACADEMIES.

    (a) Long-Term Reductions in Operating Costs.--The Secretary of 
Defense is hereby required to take such steps as may be necessary to 
reduce the costs of providing an education at the United States 
Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, and the United 
States Air Force Academy so that by January 1, 1995, the average cost 
per student of operating each military service academy--
            (1) is approximately equal; and
            (2) is not more than 10 percent greater than the average 
        cost per nonacademy student, determined by the Secretary by 
        averaging the cost per student at the ten top-ranked 
        institutions of higher education in the United States, as 
        selected by the Secretary.
    (b) Further Reductions in Operating Costs.--In addition to cost 
reductions required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense 
shall reduce the operating costs of the military service academies for 
each academic year beginning after the date of the enactment of this 
Act to the extent necessary to achieve a reduction in expenditures for 
these military service academies for each year that is equal to at 
least 50 percent of the cost for that year of providing scholarships 
under title II of this Act.
    (c) Reduction in Number of Cadets and Midshipmen.--To help achieve 
the cost reductions required by subsections (a) and (b), the Secretary 
of Defense may reduce the number of appointments made to the military 
service academies for classes entering these military service academies 
after the date of the enactment of this Act notwithstanding the 
authorized strength of the Corps of Cadets of the United States 
Military Academy, the authorized number of midshipmen at the United 
States Naval Academy, or the authorized strength of Air Force Cadets at 
the United States Air Force Academy.

SEC. 103. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON USE OF SAVINGS.

    It is the sense of the Congress that savings achieved by the 
reduction in expenditures required by section 102 should be used to 
provide funds for the operation of the scholarship program established 
under title II of this Act.

                TITLE II--PATRIOTS OF PEACE SCHOLARSHIPS

SEC. 201. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish a 
program of national security scholarships to assure an adequate supply 
of college graduates for civilian employee positions with--
            (1) the Department of Defense; and
            (2) other Federal agencies involved in education or other 
        activities related to national security.
    (b) National Security Scholars.--Each recipient of a scholarship 
under this title shall be known as a ``National Security Scholar''.

SEC. 202. ELIGIBILITY FOR SELECTION AS A NATIONAL SECURITY SCHOLAR.

    (a) In General.--An individual shall be eligible for selection as a 
National Security Scholar if such individual--
            (1) is age 17 or over;
            (2) has received a high school diploma or the equivalent of 
        a high school diploma;
            (3) is a citizen of the United States or lawfully admitted 
        for permanent residence;
            (4) is accepted for enrollment, or is enrolled, as a full-
        time student in an institution of higher learning that offers a 
        course of study described in section 206; and
            (5) is nominated for selection as a National Security 
        Scholar by a Member of Congress.
    (b) Exception.--An individual who, together with the parents of the 
individual, has an adjusted income of $50,000 or more for the year 
preceding application under this title may not be selected as a 
National Security Scholar.

SEC. 203. SELECTION OF NATIONAL SECURITY SCHOLARS.

    (a) Nomination.--The Secretary shall select National Security 
Scholars from individuals nominated by Members of Congress.
    (b) Number of Scholarships.--
            (1) Fiscal year 1994.--During fiscal year 1994, the 
        Secretary may award 2,700 four-year scholarships under this 
        title, such that each Member of Congress may nominate five 
        individuals for selection in that fiscal year.
            (2) Fiscal year 1995.--During fiscal year 1995, the 
        Secretary may award 1,630 four-year scholarships under this 
        title, such that each Member of Congress may nominate three 
        individuals for selection in that fiscal year.
            (3) Fiscal year 1996.--During fiscal year 1996, the 
        Secretary may award 1,095 four-year scholarships under this 
        title, such that each Member of Congress may nominate two 
        individuals for selection in that fiscal year.

SEC. 204. ELEMENTS OF SCHOLARSHIP.

    (a) Use of Scholarship.--A National Security Scholar may use a 
national security scholarship provided under this title at any 
institution of higher learning offering a course of instruction 
described in section 206.
    (b) Content of Scholarship.--A national security scholarship 
provided under this title shall consist of--
            (1) a payment to the National Security Scholar, or to an 
        institution of higher learning on behalf of the National 
        Security Scholar, of an amount equal to--
                    (A) the tuition of the National Security Scholar in 
                an institution of higher learning for not to exceed 
                four school years; and
                    (B) all other reasonable educational expenses, 
                including fees, books, and laboratory expenses, 
                incurred by the National Security Scholar during such 
                school years; and
            (2) a payment to the National Security Scholar of a stipend 
        of $100 for each month of such school year.

SEC. 205. SCHOLARSHIP CONTRACT.

    (a) Contract Required.--As a condition of receiving a scholarship 
under this title, each individual selected as a National Security 
Scholar shall be required to sign a written contract (described in 
subsection (c)) with the Secretary--
            (1) to accept financial assistance provided under this 
        title to assist such individual attend and graduate from an 
        institution of higher learning; and
            (2) immediately upon the completion of such program of 
        education, to serve for a total of six years as a civilian 
        employee of--
                    (A) the Department of Defense; or
                    (B) another Federal agency involved in education or 
                other activities related to national security.
    (b) Parental Consent.--If an individual selected as a National 
Security Scholar is a minor and has parents or a guardian, the 
individual may sign the contract referred to in subsection (a) only 
with the consent of the parents or guardian.
    (c) Elements of Contract.--The written contract between the 
Secretary and a National Security Scholar shall contain an agreement 
that--
            (1) subject to subsection (d), the Secretary agrees--
                    (A) to provide a four-year national security 
                scholarship under this title;
                    (B) to make summer employment opportunities 
                (including internship with Federal agencies) available 
                to the National Security Scholar during the scholarship 
                period; and
                    (C) to place (subject to the availability of 
                appropriated funds for the purpose) the National 
                Security Scholar as a civilian employee of--
                            (i) the Department of Defense; or
                            (ii) another Federal agency involved in 
                        education or other activities related to 
                        national security, with the approval of the 
                        Secretary of Defense and the head of the 
                        Federal agency involved; and
            (2) subject to subsection (d), the National Security 
        Scholar agrees--
                    (A) to accept provision of such scholarship;
                    (B) to maintain enrollment in a program of 
                education in an institution of higher learning until 
                the participant completes the program;
                    (C) while enrolled in such program of education, to 
                maintain an acceptable level of academic standing (as 
                determined under rules of the Secretary) with the 
                institution of higher learning; and
                    (D) to serve as a civilian employee of the 
                Department of Defense or another Federal agency for a 
                total of six years, as provided in paragraph (1)(C).
    (d) Assistance Subject to Funds.--The written contract shall 
contain a provision that any financial obligation of the United States 
arising out of a contract entered into under this section and any 
obligation of the National Security Scholar which is conditioned 
thereon, is contingent upon funds being appropriated for scholarships 
under this title.
    (e) Other Terms.--The written contract shall also contain--
            (1) a statement of the damages to which the United States 
        is entitled, under section 208 for the breach of the contract; 
        and
            (2) such other statements of the rights and liabilities of 
        the United States and of the National Security Scholar, not 
        inconsistent with the provisions of this title.

SEC. 206. REQUIRED COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.

    (a) In General.--As part of the agreement under section 205, a 
National Security Scholar shall agree to pursue a course of study, 
approved by the Secretary, designed to educate the National Security 
Scholar in--
            (1) the complete workings of the Federal Government, 
        including the executive, legislative, and judicial branches;
            (2) the operations of the Department of Defense;
            (3) the relationship of the Department of Defense with 
        other Federal agencies, the Congress, and the judicial branch; 
        and
            (4) the relationship of the Department of Defense with 
        State and local governments.
    (b) Length.--The course of study required by subsection (a) shall 
last at least two semesters and shall include at least three credit 
hours (or its equivalent) of study per semester. The course of study 
may also include a six-month internship with the Department of Defense 
or another Federal agency at the request of the Secretary of Defense.

SEC. 207. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.

    (a) Rights and Liabilities.--In disseminating contract forms to 
individuals nominated for a scholarship under this title, the Secretary 
shall include with such forms a fair summary of the rights and 
liabilities of an individual whose contract is accepted by the 
Secretary, including a clear explanation of the damages to which the 
United States is entitled under section 208 in the case of the breach 
of the contract.
    (b) Application and Contract Forms.--The application form, contract 
form, and all other information furnished by a Member of Congress or 
the Secretary under this title shall be written in a manner calculated 
to be understood by the average individual applying for a scholarship 
under this title.
    (c) Availability.--The Secretary shall make contract forms 
available to individuals nominated for a scholarship under this title 
on a date sufficiently early to insure that such individuals have 
adequate time to carefully review and evaluate the information 
contained in such forms.

SEC. 208. BREACH OF CONTRACT.

    (a) General Rule.--If a National Security Scholar fails to complete 
the educational requirements specified in the agreement entered into 
under section 205 or, voluntarily or because of misconduct, fails to 
complete the term of employment required under the agreement, the 
National Security Scholar shall reimburse the United States in an 
amount that bears the same ratio to the total cost of the scholarship 
provided under this title as the unserved portion of employment bears 
to the total period of employment required under the agreement.
    (b) Nature of Obligation.--The obligation to reimburse the United 
States under an agreement under section 205 is, for all purposes, a 
debt owing the United States. A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 
shall not release a National Security Scholar from an obligation to 
reimburse the United States required under the terms of such an 
agreement if the final decree of the discharge in bankruptcy is issued 
during the 15-year period beginning on the date the National Security 
Scholar signs the agreement.
    (c) Interest.--Any amount owed by a National Security Scholar under 
subsection (a) to the United States shall bear interest at the rate 
equal to the highest rate being paid by the United States on the day on 
which the reimbursement is determined to be due for securities having 
maturities of ninety days or less and shall accrue from the day on 
which the National Security Scholar is first notified of the amount due 
to the United States as a reimbursement under this section.
    (d) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply if the National 
Security Scholar terminates the agreement entered into under section 
205 and withdraws from the scholarship program before the start of the 
third school year covered by the scholarship.

   TITLE III--MONTGOMERY GI BILL BENEFITS FOR ENLISTED MEN AND WOMEN

SEC. 301. ELIMINATION OF CONTRIBUTION REQUIREMENT.

    Section 3011 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking out subsection (b);
            (2) by striking out subsection (c)(1); and
            (3) by redesignating subsection (c)(2) and subsection (d) 
        as subsections (b) and (c), respectively.

SEC. 302. INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF MONTGOMERY GI BILL EDUCATIONAL 
              ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS.

    (a) Section 3015 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking out ``$300'' and 
        inserting in lieu thereof ``$500'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking out ``$250'' and 
        inserting in lieu thereof ``$350''; and
            (3) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
    ``(f) Each of the rates established by or pursuant to subsection 
(a) or (b) of this section shall be increased on April 1, 1994, and on 
April 1 of each year thereafter, by a percentage that is equal to the 
percentage of the increase in the Consumer Price Index (all items, 
United States city average) published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
for the calendar year ending before the April 1 on which such rate is 
to be increased.''.

SEC. 303. INCREASE IN NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS.

    Section 3013 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking out ``36'' in subsections (a)(1) and (d) and inserting in lieu 
thereof ``48''.

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HR 731 IH----2