[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 69 (Thursday, May 13, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5279-S5280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FRIST:
  S. 1041. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to permit 
certain members of the Armed Forces not currently participating in the 
Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program to participate in 
that program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans 
Affairs.


                  gi education opportunity act of 1999

   Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise today to offer legislation 
that will assist the men and women serving in our armed forces in 
attaining an education. The GI Education Opportunity Act is targeted at 
a group serving in our military that has been forgotten since the 
passage of the Montgomery GI Bill. Before the GI Bill was enacted in 
1985, new servicemen were invited to participate in a program called 
the Veterans' Educational Assistance Program, or VEAP. This program 
offered only a modest return on the service member's investment and, as 
a consequence, provided little assistance to men and women in the armed 
services who wanted to pursue additional education. It was and is 
inferior to the Montgomery GI Bill that every new serviceman is offered 
today.
  The GI Education Opportunity Act would allow active duty members of 
the armed services who entered the service after December 31, 1976 and 
before July 1, 1985 and who are or were otherwise eligible for the 
Veterans' Educational Assistance Program to participate in the 
Montgomery GI Bill. This group of military professionals largely 
consists of the mid-career and senior noncommissioned officer ranks of 
our services--the exact group that new recruits have as mentors and 
leaders. If we really believe in the importance of providing our 
servicemen and women with the education opportunities afforded by the 
Montgomery GI Bill, it is critical that we offer all service members 
the opportunity to participate of they choose.
  It is important to remember that much of the impetus for the creation 
of the Montgomery GI Bill was that the Veterans' Educational Assistance 
Program was not doing the job. It was not providing sufficient 
assistance for young men and women to go to college. It was expensive 
for them to participate, and provided little incentive for young men 
and women to enter the military. The Montgomery GI Bill offers those 
serving in the military a significant increase in benefits over its 
predecessor and has been one of the most important recruiting tools 
over the last decade. It is essential that active military still 
covered under VEAP but not by the Montgomery GI Bill be brought into 
the fold.
  The injustice that my bill attempts to address is that new recruits 
are eligible for a better education program than the noncommissioned 
officers responsible for their training and well-being. Expanding 
Montgomery Bill eligibility to those currently eligible for VEAP would, 
in many cases, help mid-career and senior noncommissioned officers, who 
are the backbone of our force and set the example for younger troops, 
become better educated. This legislation is modest in its scope and 
approach, but is enormously important

[[Page S5280]]

for the individual attempting to better himself through education. 
Moreover, this legislation sends a meaningful message to those serving 
to protect the American interest that Congress cares. S. 4, the 
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines Bill of Rights Act which I was 
proud to cosponsor was an enormous step in this direction, and my 
legislation complements that effort.
  Some of the common sense provisions of The GI Education Opportunity 
Act are: 1. Regardless of previous enrollment or disenrollment in the 
VEAP, active military personnel may choose to participate in the GI 
Bill. 2. Participation for VEAP-eligible members in the GI Bill is to 
be based on the same ``buy in requirements'' as are currently 
applicable to any new GI Bill participant. For example, an active duty 
member is required to pay $100 a month for twelve months in order to be 
eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill. The same would be required of 
someone previously eligible for VEAP. 3. Any active duty member who has 
previously declined participation in the GI bill may also participate. 
4. There will be a one year period of eligibility for enrollment.
  I believe that if we are to maintain the best trained, and most 
capable military force in the world, we must be committed to allowing 
the people that comprise our armed forces to pursue further education 
opportunities. I believe that this modest legislation will have a 
positive effect on morale and give our noncommissioned officers 
additional opportunities for self-improvement and life-long learning. I 
ask for my colleagues support in this effort.
                                 ______