[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RESERVE G.I. BILL

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                         HON. FRANK A. LoBIONDO

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 2004

  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, as the largest mobilization of National 
Guard and Reserve troops since World War II continues, the high 
operations tempo is undoubtedly taking a toll on members and their 
families. Through March of 2004, 363,000 reservists have been mobilized 
in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. 
This new operations tempo reality for the Reserve components has 
altered perceptions of what it means to serve as a Reservist or 
National Guardsman, while raising serious questions about how Reserve 
members are compensated in terms of benefits. If the nation is to rely 
on the Reserves to assume a similar role to our active duty troops in 
military operations, then it is essential that Reserve compensation and 
benefits adequately reflect that new role.
  Congress has become increasingly sensitive to the needs of these 
servicemembers and their families and I am heartened that we have 
improved Reserve component benefits in several areas. Unfortunately, 
education benefit shortfalls for reservists have not drawn the 
attention they should, as one benefit that has been left behind is the 
Reserve Montgomery GI Bill.
  When the modern Montgomery GI Bill was established in 1985, Guard and 
Reserve GI Bill benefits were set at 47 percent of active duty 
benefits. For every $100 that an active duty servicemember or veteran 
received in GI Bill benefits, a Reservist would get $47. This ratio 
continued until the late 1990s, when Congress improved the active duty 
Montgomery GI Bill through large increases. Our active duty 
servicemembers have more than earned this improved educational benefit, 
but no similar major increases have been made for the Reserve program.
  As a result, Reserve MGIB benefits have slipped to 29 percent of 
active duty GI Bill benefits. This is simply unacceptable and with over 
350,000 Guard and Reserve members having been mobilized in the last 2 
years, and many thousands more scheduled for deployment to Afghanistan 
and Iraq, it is well past time to fix this problem. We must not leave 
our citizen-soldiers behind as they go into harm's way to fight the 
Global War on Terrorism. Helping them transition back to civilian life 
by improving their educational benefits will be one important way we 
can help.
  Today, I am introducing legislation, along with Mr. McIntyre of North 
Carolina, which will increase the Reserve GI Bill to 50 percent of the 
Montgomery GI Bill over a 5-year period and then keep it linked to the 
Montgomery GI Bill at the 50 percent rate. This bill, the LoBiondo-
McIntyre Reserve GI Bill Improvements Act of 2004, would also authorize 
Reservists who serve on active duty for 24 months during a 5-year 
period to qualify for benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill program, 
which is now open to only active duty personnel. This is a fiscally 
responsible way to make an achievable increase in educational benefits 
for the Reserve component.
  The 253rd Transportation Company out of Cape May Court House, New 
Jersey, in my district has just returned from over a year in Iraq as 
part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. We are very proud of the 253rd and the 
great contributions they have made to the Global War on Terrorism. I 
dedicate this legislation to all the National Guardsmen and Reservists 
from the Second District of New Jersey and to the thousands of other 
Reserve component soldiers, sailors, airman, Marines, and Coast 
Guardsmen who secure our freedom through their dedicated service to our 
nation.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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