[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 174 (Friday, December 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            21ST CENTURY MONTGOMERY GI BILL ENHANCEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 11, 2001

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
1291, the 21st Century Montgomery GI Bill Enhancement Act.
  The bill includes numerous provisions to help veterans. It broadens 
the categories of illnesses connected to Agent Orange and the Gulf War 
Sickness, and it increases educational assistance under the Montgomery 
GI Bill for full-time students from $650 per month to $800 starting on 
January 1, 2002, to $900 in FY03, and to $985 in FY03.
  Section 302 extends the Native American Veterans Housing Loan Program 
until 2006. The program was scheduled to expire in 2002.
  Tribal lands are generally held in trust. Lands held in trust cannot 
be encumbered by those who use it. As a result, native people have 
historically had limited access to mortgages to build and repair 
houses.
  The Native American Veterans Housing Loan Pilot Program was created 
by legislation authored by Senator Daniel Akaka in 1992. It provides 
direct housing loans to Native American veterans to purchase, 
construct, or improve dwellings on trust lands. The program helps 
Native American, Native Hawaiians, and Native Alaskans who were 
honorably released from active duty service since World War II.
  I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 1291 to recognize and 
compensate the service that native people have made to defend our 
country.

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