[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 1, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5397-S5398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. Harkin, and Mr. Brown):
  S. 1261. A bill to amend title 10 and 38, United States Code, to 
repeal the 10-year limit on use of Montgomery GI Bill educational 
assistance benefits, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs.
  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about an 
investment program in lifelong education for our service members and 
veterans. The Montgomery GI Bill is consistently cited as an important 
reason people join the military and continues to be one of the most 
important benefits provided for military service today. There is no 
reason why 100 percent of our active duty, selected reserve, and 
veteran servicemembers should not have the

[[Page S5398]]

opportunity to take advantage of their earned education benefits.
  That is why I'm reintroducing the Montgomery GI Bill for Life Act of 
2007, which would allow Montgomery GI Bill participants an unlimited 
amount of time to use their earned benefits.
  I am pleased that my colleague, Senator Tom Harkin, is again joining 
me in sponsoring this legislation and that Senator Sherrod Brown has 
also signed on to further extend MGIB benefits.
  The MGIB is a program that provides up to 36 months of education 
benefits for educational opportunities ranging from college to 
apprenticeship and job training, and even flight training. Upon 
enlistment, the GI Bill also requires service members to contribute 
$100 per month for their first 12 months of services.
  Basically, the MGIB is divided into two programs. One program targets 
active duty and veteran members, paying over $1,000 per month to 
qualified students. That's more than $36,000 for school. The other is 
directed at the Selected Reserve. This program provides educational 
benefits of $288 per month, for a total of $10,368.
  If recruits are overwhelmingly declaring that education opportunity 
under the GI Bill is the key incentive for them to join the military, 
then it makes sense that most--if not all--of our troops, who signed up 
for the program, would also be cashing in on their benefits. But 
reports show that the majority, 40 to 60 percent, do not actually use 
the benefits they have earned.
  Currently, MGIB participants have up to 10 years from their release 
date from the military to use their earned education benefits. Members 
of the Selected Reserve are able to use their MGIB benefit for 14 
years. However, that means your earned education benefits expire if you 
don't use the within the required timeframe, closing your window of 
opportunity to go to school or finish your college education. Plus, you 
lose the $1,200 dedicated for your GI Bill during your first year of 
enlistment.
  Originally, the intent of 1944 GI Bill of Rights was to help veterans 
successfully transition back into civilian life as education is the key 
to employment opportunities. Looking back now, we know that the GI Bill 
opened the door to higher education, helping millions of service 
members and veterans who wouldn't otherwise have had the chance to pay 
for college. That is, servicemembers benefited from the GI Bill because 
they used the payments within the 10 and 14 year limitation.

  But there are many others who did not use their earned education 
benefits within that timeframe. For example, after leaving the 
military, some servicemembers postponed going to school because they 
had to go straight to work in order to support their family. Others 
unfortunately, were either homeless or incarcerated for long periods of 
time due to disability associated with military service, but are now 
ready to move forward in their lives, and going back to school is their 
first step. In some cases, due to random life circumstances, some 
people just lost track of time. Additionally, because of misinformation 
and bureaucratic language, the GI Bill is known as a complicated 
program to navigate.
  A constituent of mine, Ruben Ruelas--who is a Local Veterans 
Employment Representative, LVER, for the WorkSource in Wenatchee, 
Washington, wrote to me saying, ``It's been my experience that most 
people don't know what they want to do in life or are placed in 
situations where, due to changing economic times, they are displaced 
and need further education and training to compete for jobs. But most 
don't have access to training resources to do so.''
  In terms of Vietnam Era veterans, Mr. Ruelas goes on to say, ``many 
50 year olds are unemployed, untrained and uneducated and could use 
their educational benefits to improve their skills to compete for 
better jobs. Many have come to realize, too late, that they need 
college or retraining and don't have the resources to do so.''
  While times have changed remarkably, one thing remains constant: 
education is critical to employment opportunity. In the 21st Century 
global labor market, enhancing skills through education and job 
training is now more important than ever. The need for retraining is 
even more underscored for our military service members and veterans.
  My legislation, the Montgomery GI Bill for Life, would ensure that 
educational opportunities are lifelong, allowing service members and 
veterans the flexibility to seek education and job training 
opportunities when it is the right time for them to do so.
  Higher education not only serves as an individual benefit, but 
positive externalities have transpired: the GI Bill was instrumental in 
building our country's middle class and continues to help close the 
college education gap.
  Today, employers are requiring higher qualifications from the 
workforce. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that six of the ten 
fastest-growing occupations require an associate's degree or bachelor's 
degree. By 2010, 40 percent of all job growth will require some form of 
postsecondary education. While a highly skilled workforce is one 
characteristic of the new economy, working for one employer throughout 
a lifetime is no longer routine, but rather an evanescent feature. 
According to findings by Brigham Young University, the average person 
changes jobs or careers eight times in his or her lifetime. To keep up 
with these trends, expanding access to education and training is a must 
do in the 21st Century global marketplace.
  A 1999 report by the Congressional Commission on Service members and 
Veterans Transition Assistance stated that the GI Bill of the future 
must include the following: Provide veterans with access to post-
secondary education that they use; assist the Armed forces in 
recruiting the high quality high school graduates needed; enhance the 
Nation's competitiveness by further educating American veterans, a 
population that is already self-disciplined, goal oriented, and 
steadfast; and attract the kind of service members who will go on to 
occupy leadership positions in government and the private sector.
  Eliminating the GI Bill 10 and 14 year limitation for service 
members, veterans, and Selected Reserve moves one step toward improving 
the MGIB. The Montgomery GI Bill for Life would allow MGIB members, 
including qualified Vietnam Era Veterans, the flexibility to access 
their earned education benefits at any time.
  As the nation's economy continues to recover and grow stronger, the 
GI Bill will continue to be the primary vehicle keeping our active duty 
service members and veterans of military service on track, helping to 
ensure our country's prosperity.

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