[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 68 (Tuesday, June 6, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E891]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       S. 1402, VETERANS AND DEPENDENTS MILLENNIUM EDUCATION ACT

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                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 6, 2000

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, as an original co-sponsor of the House 
version of this measure, I commend the House and the House Veterans' 
Affairs Committee for bringing this long-awaited increase in education 
resources for veterans to quick passage. I urge the Senate to accept 
the House version and send this bill to the President.
  In this legislation, we boost Montgomery GI bill funding 
significantly. The increase is fully offset and will go directly to 
veterans to help pay for their education. The bill would primarily 
increase the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) benefit from $536 to $600 per 
month on October 1, 2000, and to $720 per month on October 1, 2002, for 
full-time students, with proportionate increases for part-time 
students. I am disappointed that we cannot offer a benefit which is 
tied to the real escalating costs of higher education, and plans that 
recognize the actual growing costs of tuition should be given their 
day.
  As a college professor who taught and advised students who were 
eligible for Montgomery GI bill benefits, I know first hand the 
tremendous help that this program has conferred upon those who have 
served their nation.
  I am pleased with the additional provisions of S. 1402. As amended, 
these include:
  1. Furnishing individuals still on active duty who either turned down 
a previous opportunity to convert to the MGIB or had a zero balance in 
their Vietnam-era Veterans' Education Assistance Program (VEAP) 
account, the option to pay $2,700 to convert to MGIB eligibility.
  2. Increasing survivors' and dependents' educational assistance 
benefits for full-time students from $485 to $600 per month effective 
October 1, 2000, and $720 per month effective October 1, 2002, with 
proportionate increases for part-time students; also authorizes an 
annual cost of living adjustment.
  4. Permiting the award of Survivors' and Dependents' Educational 
Assistance payments to be retroactive to the date of the entitling 
event, that is, service-connected death or award of 100 percent 
disability rating.
  5. Allowing monthly educational assistance benefits to be paid 
between term, quarter, or semester intervals of up to 8 weeks.
  6. Allowing use of MGIB benefits to pay the fee for a veteran's 
civilian occupational licensing or certification examination.
  The added flexibility this bill would provide is crucial as more and 
more veterans seek higher education after their service. While this 
does not satisfy all the problems that may be out there or emerge in 
the future, it goes a long way in boosting the finest educational 
program for those who have served, the Montgomery GI bill.
  I regret missing the vote on this important bill, where I would have 
voted aye on passage, as I was in the district attending my daughter's 
high school graduation.

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