[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5023 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5023

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the payment of 
    stipends to veterans who pursue doctoral degrees in science or 
                              technology.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 7, 2004

 Mr. Sweeney introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the payment of 
    stipends to veterans who pursue doctoral degrees in science or 
                              technology.

    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 ``G.I. Advanced Education in Science 
and Technology Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The United States is starting to lose dominance in 
        science and technology.
            (2) Increasingly the mothers and fathers of scientific and 
        technological invention are not American, and the number of new 
        doctorates in the sciences, and the number of doctoral students 
        from other countries staying in the United States, are on the 
        decline.
            (3) This decline has serious implications for jobs, 
        industry, and national security in the United States.
            (4) Shortages in the science and technology base of the 
        United States will be addressed, in part, by creating a 
        scientific and technology doctoral study program in math, 
        science, engineering, and technology for veterans.

SEC. 3. STIPENDS FOR PURSUIT OF DOCTORAL DEGREES IN SCIENCE AND 
              TECHNOLOGY.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 30 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter:

  ``SUBCHAPTER V--STIPENDS FOR VETERANS PURSUING DOCTORAL DEGREES IN 
                         SCIENCE OR TECHNOLOGY

``Sec. 3041. Stipend for pursuit of certain doctoral degrees
    ``(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations 
for such purpose, the Secretary shall pay a monthly stipend to each 
eligible doctoral candidate under this subchapter for each month that 
the candidate is pursuing full-time a doctoral degree in the physical 
or natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, or other scientific or 
technology disciplines.
    ``(b) Eligible Doctoral Candidates Defined.--In this subchapter, 
the term `eligible doctoral candidate' means an individual who meets 
the following requirements:
            ``(1) The individual meets the requirements that apply 
        under section 3011 for entitlement to basic educational 
        assistance under subchapter II of this title, other than 
        requirement under subsection (c) of such section 3011 (relating 
        to reductions in basic pay).
            ``(2) The individual is pursuing full-time a doctoral 
        degree in the physical or natural sciences, engineering, 
        mathematics, or other scientific or technology disciplines, 
        after having completed a bachelor's degree program in any 
        academic discipline at an institution of higher education.
    ``(c) Relation to Basic Montgomery GI Bill Educational 
Assistance.--Payment of educational assistance under this subchapter is 
in addition to payment of educational assistance under subchapter II or 
III of this chapter.
``Sec. 3042. Duration of payments
    ``Payments of stipends under section 3041 of this title to an 
eligible doctoral candidate may be made for a period not to exceed a 
total of 60 months.
``Sec. 3043. Amount of stipend
    ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary shall 
pay to an eligible doctoral candidate pursuing a course at an 
institution of higher learning leading to a doctoral degree referred to 
in section 3041(a) of this title at the monthly rate of $1,200.
    ``(b) Adjustment for Inflation.--With respect to any fiscal year 
beginning after fiscal year 2005, the Secretary shall provide a 
percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) in the rate payable 
under subsection (a) equal to the percentage by which--
            ``(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States 
        city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 
        preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the 
        increase is made, exceeds
            ``(2) such Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period 
        preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1).
    ``(c) Disregard of Stipend Amount in Determination of Assistance 
From Institution of Higher Learning.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, an institution of higher learning may not take into 
account payments made to an eligible doctoral candidate under section 
3041 of this title in determining the amount of financial assistance 
(such as stipends and tuition remittance) the institution would 
otherwise provide to the eligible doctoral candidate.
``Sec. 3044. Requirements
    ``Payments of stipends under section 3041 of this title to an 
eligible doctoral candidate may be made only insofar as the eligible 
doctoral candidate--
            ``(1) has been accepted into an accredited doctoral program 
        at an institution of higher learning;
            ``(2) provides annual documentation to the Secretary of 
        full-time matriculation in the doctoral program; and
            ``(3) maintains good academic standing.
``Sec. 3045. Time limitation for payment of stipends
    ``The period during which the Secretary may make payments of 
stipends under section 3041 of this title to an eligible doctoral 
candidate under this subchapter expires at the end of the 10-year 
period beginning on the date on which the eligible doctoral candidate 
first begins pursuing full-time such doctoral degree.
``Sec. 3046. Annual authorization of appropriations
    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this subchapter for each fiscal year, beginning with fiscal year 
2005, $14,900,000.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 3011 of such title is 
amended in subsection (f)(1) and (g) by striking ``chapter'' each place 
it appears and inserting ``subchapter''.
    (2) Section 3018A(a) of such title is amended by striking 
``education assistance under this chapter'' and inserting ``educational 
assistance under this subchapter''.
    (3) Section 3018B of such title is amended by striking ``education 
assistance under this chapter'' each place it appears and inserting 
``educational assistance under this subchapter''.
    (4) Section 3018C of such title is amended by striking 
``educational assistance under this chapter'' each place it appears and 
inserting ``educational assistance under this subchapter''.
    (5) Section 3019 of such title is amended by striking ``chapter'' 
each place it appears and inserting ``subchapter''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 30 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new items:
  ``subchapter v--stipends for veterans pursuing doctoral degrees in 
                         science or technology
``3041. Stipend for pursuit of certain doctoral degrees.
``3042. Duration of payments.
``3043. Amount of stipend.
``3044. Requirements.
``3045. Time limitation for payment of stipends.
``3046. Annual authorization of appropriations.''.
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