[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3041 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3041

  To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the period during 
     which a member of the Armed Forces may enroll for educational 
                assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 9, 2003

Mr. Bilirakis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
  Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 
   Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the period during 
     which a member of the Armed Forces may enroll for educational 
                assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Montgomery GI Bill Enrollment 
Extension Act''.

SEC. 2. TWO-YEAR PERIOD FOR ENROLLMENT UNDER MONTGOMERY GI BILL.

    (a) Three-Year Enlistment.--(1) Subsection (b) of section 3011 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b)(1) The basic pay of any individual described in subsection 
(a)(1)(A) who does not make an election under subsection (c)(1) shall 
be reduced by an equal monthly amount so that the total reduction of 
such basic pay equals $1,200. The individual shall designate, in a form 
and manner determined by the Secretary concerned, a number of 
consecutive months (not to exceed twelve) to have such reductions in 
basic pay apply.
    ``(2)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), reductions in basic pay under 
paragraph (1) may only occur during the period referred to in the 
second sentence of subsection (c)(1).
    ``(B) In the case of an individual who is discharged or released 
from active duty in accordance with the provisions of this section 
before the aggregate reductions in basic pay of the individual equal 
$1,200, the Secretary shall collect from the individual an amount equal 
to the difference between $1,200 and the total amount of reductions 
under paragraph (1).
    ``(3) Any amount by which the basic pay of an individual is reduced 
under this chapter, or which the Secretary collects under paragraph 
(2)(B), shall revert to the Treasury and shall not, for purposes of any 
Federal law, be considered to have been received by or to be within the 
control of such individual.''.
    (2) The second sentence of subsection (c)(1) of such section is 
amended to read as follows: ``Any such election may be made at any time 
during the period that begins on the date the individual initially 
enters on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces and ends on the 
earlier of the date that is two years after such date or the date of 
the individual's discharge or release from active duty in accordance 
with the provisions of this section.''.
    (b) Two-Year Enlistment.--(1) Subsection (c) of section 3012 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c)(1) The basic pay of any individual described in subsection 
(a)(1)(A) who does not make an election under subsection (d)(1) shall 
be reduced by an equal monthly amount so that the total reduction of 
such basic pay equals $1,200. The individual shall designate, in a form 
and manner determined by the Secretary concerned, a number of 
consecutive months (not to exceed twelve) to have such reductions in 
basic pay apply.
    ``(2)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), reductions in basic pay under 
paragraph (1) may only occur during the period referred to in the 
second sentence of subsection (d)(1).
    ``(B) In the case of an individual who is discharged or released 
from active duty in accordance with the provisions of this section 
before the aggregate reductions in basic pay of the individual equal 
$1,200, the Secretary shall collect from the individual an amount equal 
to the difference between $1,200 and the total amount of reductions 
under paragraph (1).
    ``(3) Any amount by which the basic pay of an individual is reduced 
under this chapter, or which the Secretary collects under paragraph 
(2)(B), shall revert to the Treasury and shall not, for purposes of any 
Federal law, be considered to have been received by or to be within the 
control of such individual.''.
    (2) The second sentence of subsection (d)(1) of such section is 
amended to read as follows: ``Any such election may be made at any time 
during the period that begins on the date the individual initially 
enters on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces and ends on the 
earlier of the date that is two years after such date or the date of 
the individual's discharge or release from active duty in accordance 
with the provisions of this section.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to individuals who first become members of the Armed Forces or 
first enter on active duty as members of the Armed Forces on or after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
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