[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 80 (Thursday, May 31, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H3272-H3273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
                 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF MONTGOMERY GI BILL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Harper) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to take note of the 25th 
anniversary of the Montgomery GI Bill on June 1, and to share with my 
colleagues that this landmark legislation continues to pay dividends in 
strengthening our all-volunteer military and providing far-reaching 
educational opportunities for so many Americans.
  I'm also proud to note that the author of this GI Bill was G.V. 
``Sonny'' Montgomery of Mississippi. He served the Third Congressional 
District from 1967 1997, the same congressional district that I'm so 
honored to represent today. Sonny was chairman of the House Veterans' 
Affairs Committee for 14 years and a senior Member of the House Armed 
Services Committee. He understood military and veterans issues and 
worked tirelessly in support of a strong national defense and the men 
and women who served our great Nation.
  All across central Mississippi, one can find many tributes to Sonny. 
The VA Medical Center in Jackson bears his name, as does the G.V. 
``Sonny'' Montgomery National Guard Complex in his hometown of 
Meridian, Mississippi.
  Another facility that deserves mention is the G.V. ``Sonny'' 
Montgomery Center for America's Veterans at his alma mater, Mississippi 
State University. The professionals at the center have won national 
praise for their work in helping veterans, dependents, and family 
members transition from military life to the classroom, including 
administering benefits for the GI Bill. Their efforts enhanced Sonny's 
legacy as the champion for military and veterans causes. His 35-year 
background as a World War II veteran and Korean war veteran, and as a 
retired major general in the Mississippi National Guard, gave Sonny a 
unique perspective for the leadership role he played in Congress on 
national security and veterans issues.
  The United States abolished the military draft in 1973, and by the 
late 1970s, the success of the all-volunteer force was in peril because 
the service branches had difficulty recruiting quality individuals. One 
high-ranking U.S. Army official referred to it as a ``hollow army'' and 
decried the need for help in crafting a plan to boost enlistments.

[[Page H3273]]

  As chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Sonny recognized 
these needs and proposed a cost-effective education incentive that 
would be popular with college-age youth. Sonny's vision won high 
praise, with one admiral saying it ``reversed expectations of failure 
and planted the promise of success'' in our post-Vietnam era military.
  One official at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point wrote:

       Transitioning to the all-volunteer force was the most 
     important change the Army made since World War II. The 
     Montgomery GI Bill was the policy vehicle that allowed this 
     to happen.

  I should also note that the law made National Guard and Reserve 
personnel eligible for educational benefits for the first time in 
history. It reflected Sonny's understanding of the importance of our 
reserve components and our national defense picture. The role of our 
Guard and Reserve today is even stronger, and I'm confident that the 
Montgomery GI Bill has been key to that success.
  Over the past quarter century, more than 2.6 million veterans have 
used the Montgomery GI Bill. It has made a difference in the lives of 
the men and women who have pursued higher educational opportunities 
that otherwise might not have been available. It is also one of the 
foundations upon which our military continues to stand as the greatest 
military power in history.

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