[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 56 (Tuesday, April 8, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4960-S4961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Nelson 
        of Florida, and Mr. Durbin):
  S. 812. A bill to amend section 16131 of title 10, United States 
Code, to increase rates of educational assistance under the program of 
educational assistance for members of the Selected Reserve; to the 
Committee on Armed Services.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, at a time when our men and women in 
uniform are fighting valiantly to bring peace and opportunity to an 
oppressed people and ensure the security of our homeland, I am pleased 
to introduce the Selected Reserve Educational Assistance Act of 2003 to 
extend the opportunity of higher education to many of those very same 
men and women in uniform. This legislation provides our National Guard 
and Reserve personnel, hundreds of thousands of whom are currently 
mobilized, deployed, and fighting around the globe, with educational 
opportunities as intended by the Montgomery GI bill. I am pleased that 
my colleagues, Senators Tom Daschle, Tim Johnson, and Bill Nelson, have 
joined as cosponsors.
  Through this legislation, we week to promote both service to country 
and education in a way that is both logical and fair. Members of our 
National Guard and Reserve are members of our communities. The skills 
they learn from military service are reflected in the positions of 
leadership they assume among us. These citizen-soldiers have 
demonstrated their commitment to serve and as members of the ``total 
force'' deserve opportunities to further improve themselves through the 
civilian educational opportunities the Montgomery GI bill promotes. 
Service and education are prerequisites of a strong, vibrant democracy. 
This legislation seeks to further this combined effort.
  The original GI bill, known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, was 
enacted in 1944. That bill provided a $500 annual education stipend as 
well as a $50 subsistence allowance. As a result of this initiative, 
7.8 million World War II veterans were able to take advantage of post-
service education and training opportunities, including more than 2.2 
million veterans who went on to college. My own father was among those 
veterans who volunteered for the war, fought bravely, and then returned 
to college with assistance from the GI bill.
  Since the 1940's various versions of servicemen's education 
assistance have allowed millions of veterans to take advantage of 
educational opportunities. Over time, however, inflation and the 
escalating costs of higher education have eroded the value of those 
educational benefits. During the 107th Congress with the enactment of 
Public Law 107-103 Senator Johnson and I, along with many of our 
colleagues, made great strides returning value to educational 
assistance benefits available for active component service members and 
veterans. More remains to be done.

  The United States military is an all volunteer force. In times of 
peace and prosperity and in times of trial, we rely on young men and 
women to come forward of their own accord to stand up for our 
collective defense. Though service to country and patriotism, 
particularly in times of crisis, factor into recruiting this all 
volunteer force, benefits still do and ought to matter. We must remain 
vigilant, as we are constantly recruiting new members of our armed 
forces, ensuring the benefits these individuals receive from military 
service are commensurate with the service they render to this nation.
  At its inception in 1985, the Reserve Montgomery GI bill program, had 
been pegged at 47 percent of basic active component Montgomery GI bill 
benefits. During the ensuing 18 years, the parity of the reserve 
program with its active duty counterpart has slipped. At present the 
Chapter 1606 program, Selected Reserve Montgomery GI bill, is only 
about 28 percent of the Chapter 30 program. This legislation attempts 
to bring the reserve program back in line with the active component 
benefit.

[[Page S4961]]

  In each of the last three years over 75,000 National Guard and 
Reserve members have taken advantage of Veterans Administration 
educational benefits for pursuing their educational or vocational 
objectives. While those citizen-soldiers currently mobilized may become 
eligible for veterans benefits, we must correct the disparity between 
the active and reserve Montgomery GI bill programs. Only two benefit 
increases have been legislated in the reserve program since its 
inception in 1985, other than cost-of-living increases. The reserve 
Montgomery GI bill benefit for full-time study stands at $276 compared 
to $985 per month for the Title 38 program. This legislation will bring 
the reserve Montgomery GI bill benefit to $428 per month in fiscal year 
2004 and $473 per month in fiscal year 2005 and continue out-year 
increases in accordance with advances in the consumer price index.
  The Military Coalition comprised of 33 member organizations 
representing over 5.5 million veterans and family members endorses rate 
increases and funds for the reserve Montgomery GI bill program so that 
National Guard and Reserve service members can reap an educational 
return on their voluntary service to country.
  It is time to return reserve educational assistance benefits to the 
level intended by the original drafting of the Reserve Montgomery GI 
Bill. Coupling and reinforcing service with higher education will pay 
dividends for our future security, strength and prosperity. This 
legislation fulfills the promise made to our Nation's service members, 
helps with recruiting and retention, strengthens the economy, and 
partly offsets the increasing costs of higher education.
  I urge all Members of the Senate to join me in support of the 
Selected Reserve Educational Assistance Act of 2003 and quickly pass 
this legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 812

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

     SECTION 1. INCREASE IN RATES OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER 
                   PROGRAM OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS 
                   OF THE SELECTED RESERVE.

       (a) Increase in Rates.--Section 16131(b)(1) of title 10, 
     United States Code, is amended by striking subparagraphs (A) 
     through (C) and inserting the following new subparagraphs (A) 
     through (C):
       ``(A) For a program of education pursued on a full-time 
     basis, at the monthly rate of--
       ``(i) for months occurring during fiscal year 2004, $428;
       ``(ii) for months occurring during fiscal year 2005, $473; 
     and
       ``(iii) for months occurring during a subsequent fiscal 
     year, the amount for months occurring during the previous 
     fiscal year, increased under paragraph (2).
       ``(B) For a program of education pursued on a three-
     quarter-time basis, at the monthly rate of--
       ``(i) for months occurring during fiscal year 2004, $321;
       ``(ii) for months occurring during fiscal year 2005, $355; 
     and
       ``(iii) for months occurring during a subsequent fiscal 
     year, the amount for months occurring during the previous 
     fiscal year, increased under paragraph (2).
       ``(C) For a program of education pursued on a half-time 
     basis, at the monthly rate of--
       ``(i) for months occurring during fiscal year 2004, $214;
       ``(ii) for months occurring during fiscal year 2005, $237; 
     and
       ``(iii) for months occurring during a subsequent fiscal 
     year, the amount for months occurring during the previous 
     fiscal year, increased under paragraph (2).''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on October 1, 2003, and shall apply with 
     respect to months that begin on or after the date.
       (c) CPI Adjustment.--No adjustment shall be made under 
     paragraph (2) of section 16131(b) of title 10, United States 
     Code, for fiscal years 2004 and 2005.
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