[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 105 (Tuesday, July 14, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H8036-H8037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       PILOT COLLEGE WORK STUDY PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS ACT OF 2009

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1037) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct 
a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability of 
expanding the scope of certain qualifying work-study activities under 
title 38, United States Code, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill, as amended.
  The text of the bill, as amended, is as follows:

                               H.R. 1037

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Pilot College Work Study 
     Programs for Veterans Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. FIVE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM FOR ON-CAMPUS WORK-STUDY 
                   POSITIONS.

       (a) Establishment of Pilot Program.--The Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall conduct a five-year pilot project to 
     test the feasibility and advisability of expanding the scope 
     of qualifying work-study activities for purposes of section 
     3485(a)(4) of title 38, United States Code, including work-
     study positions available on site at educational 
     institutions.
       (b) Type of Work-Study Positions.--The work-study positions 
     referred to in subsection (a) may include positions in 
     academic departments (including positions as tutors or 
     research, teaching, and lab assistants) and in student 
     services (including positions in career centers and financial 
     aid, campus orientation, cashiers, admissions, records, and 
     registration offices).
       (c) Regulations.--The Secretary shall issue regulations to 
     carry out the pilot project under this section, including 
     regulations providing for the supervision of work-study 
     positions referred to in subsection (a) by appropriate 
     personnel of the Department.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for each of 
     fiscal years 2010 through 2014 to carry out the pilot project 
     under this section.
       (e) Source of Funds.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
     of law, this section shall not be carried out with any funds 
     provided for or under any authority of the Readjustment 
     benefits program described by the list of Appropriated 
     Entitlements and Mandatories for Fiscal Year 1997 contained 
     in the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 2015 of the 105th 
     Congress, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (H. Report 105-
     217). No funds shall be obligated for the purpose of carrying 
     out this section except discretionary funds appropriated 
     specifically for the purpose of carrying out this section in 
     appropriation Acts enacted after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the chairwoman of the 
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity of the Veterans' Committee, 
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin of South Dakota, for introducing this bill, 
the Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2009. It 
would direct the VA to conduct a 5-year pilot project to expand on 
existing work study activities for student veterans to participate in 
work study positions in academic departments and in student services.
  As this committee's chairman and a former university professor, I 
understand the financial hurdles of paying for college and strongly 
support all methods to make education more affordable for our brave 
veterans.
  This legislation provides an additional avenue for student veterans 
to help pay for college and places them on a par with other students in 
the same financial situation. Furthermore, these new work study 
positions would provide student veterans with much needed job skills 
that they can use in their professional career.
  Our chairwoman, Ms. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, will be speaking on 
this bill, and I urge all our colleagues to join me in reaffirming our 
country's commitment to our veterans by supporting this H.R. 1037.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might use.
  I rise in support of H.R. 1037, as amended, introduced by the 
distinguished chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Ms. 
Herseth Sandlin. The Pilot College Work Study Program for Veterans Act 
of 2009 would expand the number and types of work study positions at 
colleges and universities.
  The types of work study jobs that can be funded through the 
Montgomery GI Bill are too restrictive. Expanding the types of jobs 
veterans may hold at schools benefits student veterans financially, but 
more importantly, in my view, it places them in positions where 
nonveteran students and faculty will see the advantages and results of 
military service to the Nation. Too often our young people see only the 
entitlement side of life that requires no commitment to something other 
than themselves.
  Just as the original GI Bill opened higher education to the masses of 
citizen soldiers after World War II, improved the experiences of all 
students, including nonveterans, this bill will broaden the impact on 
veterans throughout the Nation's higher educational system.
  I am reminded of the statement by James B. Conant, president of 
Harvard University, shortly after the World War II generation filled 
the campuses. In recanting his earlier concerns, he stated, and I 
quote: The mature student body that filled our colleges in 1946 and 
1947 was a delight to all who were teaching undergraduates. For 
seriousness, perceptiveness, and studiousness and all other 
undergraduate virtues, the former soldiers and sailors were the best in 
Harvard's history.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1037, as amended, will provide our veterans on 
campus a unique opportunity to earn while they learn, to build their 
resumes and to influence campus life. Too often our young citizens see 
a distorted image of veterans, and this bill will help replace that 
image with one of men and woman who are dedicated to education and to 
making meaningful contributions to society.
  By enlarging the types of work study jobs veterans can hold on 
campus, we are putting them in the forefront of student life. As 
teaching assistants, administrative staff, student counselors, and 
other high-visibility jobs, nonveteran students and faculty will see 
them just as Harvard President Conant did over 60 years ago.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. I would yield as much time as she may consume to our 
dynamic chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Ms. Herseth 
Sandlin of South Dakota.
  Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, the 
distinguished gentleman from California, for yielding.
  I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1037, the Pilot College Work 
Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2009, as amended, which the 
Veterans' Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee passed on June 4 
and the full committee approved on June 10.
  I was proud to introduce this important legislation, and I would like 
to thank the full committee chairman, Mr. Filner, the ranking member, 
Mr. Buyer, for their leadership in support of this legislation, as well 
as the support of Congressman Grijalva of Arizona, who was an original 
cosponsor. I have been pleased to be able to work with the 
distinguished ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Boozman of 
Arkansas, in a bipartisan way to advance this legislation to the full 
committee and now to the floor. I also

[[Page H8037]]

want to thank Congressman Teague of New Mexico for offering an 
amendment to this bill during the subcommittee markup that clarified 
the effective end date of the pilot program.
  This legislation works to expand and improve the educational benefits 
available to our country's veterans by directing the Secretary of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a 5-year pilot project that 
tests the feasibility and advisability of expanding the scope of work 
study activities available to veterans receiving educational benefits 
through the VA.
  Currently, eligible student veterans enrolled in college degree 
programs, vocational programs or professional programs, are eligible to 
participate in the work study allowance program. However, they are 
limited to positions involving VA-related work, such as processing VA 
paperwork, performing outreach services, and assisting staff at medical 
facilities or the offices of the National Cemetery Administration. 
Thus, veterans aren't afforded opportunities similar to those offered 
to nonveteran students.
  This pilot program would expand the qualifying work study activities 
allowed to include positions in academic departments, such as tutoring 
or assisting with research, teaching and lab work, as well as student 
services such as positions in career centers, financial aid, 
orientation, cashiers, admissions, records, and registration offices.
  Given the wide variety of tasks our men and women in uniform perform 
while serving their country, our Nation should be capitalizing on the 
unique training and skill sets that veterans who are pursuing their 
degrees bring to their educational institutions.
  This pilot program will run from 2010 to 2014 and will give the VA an 
adequate opportunity to determine if this expanded work study program 
should be further expanded.
  This bill also requires the Secretary of the VA to publish 
regulations on the supervision of veterans participating in these 
expanded work study positions.
  Educational benefits are one of the essential benefits that our 
country gives its veterans. These benefits help our veterans take that 
experience that they have gained while serving, and translate that 
knowledge into college degrees and other types of professional 
development. The money we, as a Nation, invest in the education of 
veterans, has a direct positive economic benefit for the country.
  As chairwoman of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, I look 
forward to continuing to work in a bipartisan manner with Mr. Boozman 
and our subcommittee members to ensure veterans are receiving the best 
possible educational benefits.
  On a personal note, Mr. Speaker, it has been 20 years now, but as a 
work study student myself, I wouldn't want any of my contemporaries 
then, and certainly the young men and women who are serving in uniform 
today, to be denied particular opportunities available in an academic 
environment to pursue their own educational aspirations or to serve 
their fellow students on campus in any capacity that VA education 
benefits are intended to provide.
  So again, I want to thank Chairman Filner for his leadership on this 
issue, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. I yield the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun) 3 
minutes.
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. I rise today in support of the veterans of this 
country.
  Mr. Speaker, I served in the United States Marine Corps. I'm also an 
original intent constitutionalist, and I believe very firmly that most 
Americans understand that a national defense, a strong national 
defense, and thus, supporting our military men and women as well as the 
veterans, is critically important. It's important for the veterans, the 
retirees, those who are on disability. It's extremely important to 
them.
  It is also important to our current active duty troops for us to 
support veterans, because how are we going to get people to stay in the 
military to be senior NCOs, senior officers or flag officers if we do 
not fulfill the promises that we make to the men and women who come 
into the military to begin with? And thus, it is also important in the 
recruiting process. How are we going to recruit good men and women to 
come into the military, make it a career, if we don't fulfill the 
promises that we have made to them as they enlist or are commissioned 
in the military?
  Mr. Speaker, we have broken promises to the veterans. We have broken 
many promises. In my district, I have two stellar VA hospitals, the 
Charlie Norwood Veterans Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia. I also 
have a veterans clinic just outside of Athens, Georgia, that gives 
stellar care to our veterans. But veterans are denied the health care, 
educational needs and other things that they have been promised, and 
it's a travesty. We have to stop denying the veterans the promises that 
we have made them, and it's absolutely critical for our national 
defense.
  Mr. FILNER. I have no further speakers and am prepared to yield back.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I just want to say, to thank Ms. Herseth 
Sandlin for bringing this forward. I, like her--and it has been a 
little bit more than 20 years--enjoyed the ability of participating 
with work study. I know how important it is and how important it will 
be to these students if we can extend this even further to our 
military.
  So I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill. It's a good one. 
I appreciate Chairman Filner and Mr. Buyer for bringing this forward 
and would urge its adoption.
  I yield back the balance of my time.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 1037, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FILNER. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1037, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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