[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17218-17219]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


    INTRODUCING TWO BILLS RELATED TO POST-9/11 EDUCATION ASSISTANCE

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                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 15, 2013

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce two important 
legislation that would make common-sense reform to Section 3319 of 
title 38 of the United States pertaining to post-9/11 educational 
assistance, also known as ``Post-9/11 GI Bill.'' I supported the 
creation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill because the brave men and women in 
uniformed services deserve our nation's support in attaining education. 
I have heard from many constituents who are benefiting from this worthy 
program. I have also heard from some who say that the law needs to be 
amended to ensure that the benefits are fully used.
  My first bill, Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Enhancement Act, 
would expand the authority of veterans to transfer post-9/11 
educational assistance to dependents within five years of separation 
from the uniformed services. Currently, members of the uniformed 
services must transfer their benefits to their dependent before leaving 
the services. My bill would give veterans more time to ascertain 
whether or not life circumstance dictates the need to transfer the 
educational benefits to their dependents. The goal is to ensure that 
more people can take advantage of the educational assistance.
  My second bill, Increased Age Limit for Post-9/11 Education 
Assistance Dependents Act, would increase the age limit to use 
transferred post-9/11 educational assistance from 26 years old to 29 
years old. This is again intended to capture more beneficiaries of the 
Post-9/11 GI Bill, particularly those who are pursuing medical school 
or other professional degrees where the typical age of entry is higher 
than other degrees.

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  I encourage all of my colleagues to support these two measures so 
that we can better serve our veterans and military families.

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