[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 98 (Thursday, May 21, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27853-27854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13526]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
38 CFR Part 21
RIN 2900-AJ10
Veterans Education: Increase in Rates Payable for Cooperative
Training Under the Montgomery GI Bill--Active Duty
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document amends the educational assistance and
educational benefits regulations of the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA). The Veterans' Benefits Act of 1997 provided a new statutory
formula for use in calculating the monthly rates of educational
assistance payable under the Montgomery GI Bill--Active Duty to someone
pursuing cooperative training. The new formula increases the monthly
rates of educational assistance, effective from October 9, 1996, for
veterans in cooperative training who were formerly eligible for
assistance under the Veteran Era GI Bill. This final document amends
the regulations to reflect the increased rates.
DATES: Effective Date: October 9, 1996
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William G. Susling, Jr., Education
Advisor, Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, (202)
273-7187.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA is amending the ``ALL VOLUNTEER FORCE
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MONTGOMERY GI BILL--ACTIVE DUTY)''
regulations set forth at 38 CFR Part 21, Subpart K. VA is required by
statute to calculate the monthly rate of educational assistance payable
to veterans and servicemembers training under the Montgomery GI Bill--
Active Duty (MGIB). The calculation is based on statutory formulas.
Effective October 9, 1996, Pub. L. 105-114 changed the statutory
formula used to determine the monthly rate of educational assistance
under the MGIB payable to a veteran in cooperative training who was
formerly eligible for assistance under the Vietnam Era GI Bill. This
final rule revises the regulations containing the monthly rate of
educational assistance payable to such a veteran to reflect the new
statutory formula.
The changes set forth in this final rule are applied from the
effective date of the statutory changes.
This final rule merely reflects statutory requirements and
adjustments made based on the newly established formula. Accordingly,
there is a basis for dispensing with prior notice and comment and
delayed effective date provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552 and 553.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs hereby certifies that this final
rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities as they are defined in the Regulatory
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612 and does not directly affect small
entities. This final rule directly affects only individuals. Pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), this final rule, therefore, is exempt from the
initial and final regulatory flexibility
[[Page 27854]]
analyses requirements of sections 603 and 604.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for the
program affected by this final rule is 64.124.
List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 21
Administrative practice and procedure, Armed forces, Civil rights,
Claims, Colleges and universities, Conflict of interests, Defense
Department, Education, Employment, Grant programs-education, Grant
programs-veterans, Health programs, Loan programs-education, Loan
programs-veterans, Manpower training programs, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Schools, Travel and transportation
expenses, Veterans, Vocational education, Vocational rehabilitation.
Approved: May 12. 1998.
Togo D. West, Jr.,
Secretary.
For the reasons set out above, 38 CFR part 21, subpart K, is
amended as set forth below.
PART 21--VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION
Subpart K--All Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program
(Montgomery GI Bill--Active Duty)
1. The authority citation for part 21, subpart K continues to read
as follows:
Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a), chs. 30, 39, unless otherwise
noted.
2. In Sec. 21.7137, paragraph (a)(3) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 21.7137 Rates of payment of basic educational assistance for
individuals with remaining entitlement under 38 U.S.C. ch. 34.
(a) * * *
(3) The monthly rate payable to a veteran who is pursuing a
cooperative course is the rate stated in the following table:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly rate
---------------------------------------------------
Additional
Training period No One Two for each
dependents dependent dependents additional
dependent
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oct. 9, 1996-Sept. 30, 1997................................. $615.87 $651.37 $682.87 $16.00
On or after Oct. 1, 1997.................................... 627.85 663.85 694.85 16.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3015)
* * * * * * *
[FR Doc. 98-13526 Filed 5-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P