[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 303. Mr. HOEVEN (for himself and Mr. Schatz) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2226, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2024 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title V, insert the following:

     SEC. __. FEDERAL TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE AIR 
                   NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The Secretary of the Air Force stated in March 2023 
     that the Air Force expects to miss its recruiting goals 
     across its active and reserve components.
       (2) The Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) program in the 
     Army National Guard demonstrates the value of education 
     benefits as a tool for recruitment and retention of 
     personnel.
       (3) In fiscal years 2020 and 2021, Congress provided funds 
     for the Air National Guard to establish a pilot program to 
     provide its members with Federal tuition assistance modeled 
     after the permanent program in the Army National Guard.
       (4) During fiscal year 2021, 974 drill status Air National 
     Guard members received tuition assistance through the Air 
     National Guard pilot program.
       (5) The Air National Guard terminated the pilot program in 
     fiscal year 2022, citing competing budget priorities.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) members of the Air National Guard should have access to 
     the same educational benefits as members of the Army National 
     Guard;
       (2) members of the Guard and Reserve components should have 
     education benefits on par with their active duty 
     counterparts; and
       (3) education benefits are a critical tool for recruiting 
     and retaining outstanding personnel in all service branches 
     and components.
       (c) Program.--The Secretary of the Air Force shall 
     establish and carry out a permanent program to provide 
     Federal tuition assistance to members of the Air National 
     Guard and Reserve.
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