[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 155 (Monday, November 4, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S7798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Mr. Inhofe):
  S. 1643. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for 
a two-year extension of the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education; 
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I rise to introduce bipartisan 
legislation to reauthorize the Veterans' Advisory Committee on 
Education, a panel that provides much needed assistance to our Nation's 
veterans by advising the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on existing VA 
education benefit programs, new education initiatives, and long-range 
education planning and development. This legislation is entitled the 
Veterans Advisory Committee on Education Improvement Act, and I wish to 
thank my colleague, Senator Inhofe, for joining me in this effort.
  I am proud to introduce this companion bill to House-passed 
legislation which was introduced by Representatives John Delaney and 
Jim Renacci and 12 other Members. This bill will reauthorize the 
Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education through December 31, 2015, 
and it expands the make-up of the Committee to include post 9/11 
veterans. Absent Congressional action, the Advisory Committee's 
authority will sunset on December 31, 2013. In addition to preserving 
its traditional role, our bill will require the Advisory Committee to 
expand its reach to include veterans who served after September 11, 
2001. Currently, the Committee only provides assistance for veterans 
who served through the Persian Gulf War. The Committee is particularly 
interested in ensuring that educational opportunities are available to 
eligible veterans and enabling them to readjust to civilian life and 
become members of a highly educated and productive work force. The 
Committee focuses on improving the benefits provided by the GI Bill.
  I believe that a true marker of our Nation's worth is our willingness 
to serve those who have served us. As we continue to wind down our 
commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan after a decade of war, we need to 
gear up our commitment to our veterans. This legislation will ensure 
that the brave men and women who serve our country in the armed 
services receive the most effective education and training 
opportunities available. I am proud of the support that organizations 
have provided in this effort. The Military Officers Association of 
America, MOAA, Students Veterans Association, SVA, Iraq and Afghanistan 
Veterans of America, IAVA, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW, have 
provided invaluable insight in crafting this
  I am committed to making sure that our veterans receive the services 
and benefits they earned, and the support they were promised and 
deserve. The United States is the strongest nation in the world and we 
owe veterans our gratitude and our respect. This legislation is just a 
small token of how Congress can help veterans have all the tools they 
need, including education and job training, to ensure an easier 
transition to civilian life. By making sure that post 9/11 veterans 
have a voice at the VA this legislation encourages more effective and 
efficient government.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1643

       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 ``Veterans' Advisory Committee 
     on Education Improvement Act of 2013''.

     SEC. 2. TWO-YEAR EXTENSION OF VETERANS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON 
                   EDUCATION.

       Section 3692 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by inserting ``31,'' after ``30,''; and
       (B) by striking ``and the Persian Gulf War'' and inserting 
     ``the Persian Gulf War, and the post-9/11 operations in Iraq 
     and Afghanistan'';
       (2) in subsection (b), by inserting ``31,'' after ``30,''; 
     and
       (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``December 31, 2013'' 
     and inserting ``December 31, 2015''.

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