[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000-2001, Book III)]
[November 1, 2000]
[Pages 2408-2409]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



 Statement on Signing the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement 
Act of 2000
 November 1, 2000

     Today I have signed into law S. 1402, the ``Veterans Benefits and 
Health Care Improvement Act of 2000.'' S. 1402 expresses the Nation's 
continued gratitude to our veterans by reauthorizing and making 
improvements to a wide range of veterans' benefits and programs.
     I am pleased that the Congress has included in S. 1402 significant 
benefit increases and other enhancements to the All-Volunteer Force 
Educational Assistance Program, which is commonly known as the 
Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB). This program helps the men and women who have 
bravely served their country in the Armed Forces to adjust to civilian 
life. In addition, it is a major tool that the Armed Forces use to 
recruit highly qualified servicemembers. This

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Act increases the basic MGIB benefit for a 3-year period of service to 
$650 monthly and the rate for a 2-year period of service to $528 
monthly. These rates represent the single largest benefit increase in 
MGIB's 15-year history and are similar to the levels of increase the 
Vice President and I proposed earlier this year.

     This legislation also includes increases for education allowances 
for the survivors and dependents of veterans, resulting in a $588 
monthly benefit for a full-time student. Further, this Act will protect 
these survivors' and dependents' benefits against inflation by providing 
annual cost-of-living adjustments like those adjustments that already 
apply to veterans' education benefits.

     Beyond the significant enhancements to education assistance, this 
legislation makes several important changes to disability compensation 
benefits. Among them are provisions that will extend monthly disability 
allowances, vocational training, and health care to women Vietnam 
veterans' children who are born with certain medical conditions. These 
women veterans made huge sacrifices to protect our freedom, and it is 
only just that their children with resulting medical conditions be 
compensated. Similar benefits are currently afforded to such children 
who were born with spina bifida, but this Act will expand benefits 
beyond that one condition.

     This legislation also enhances benefits for Filipino veterans of 
World War II who currently receive disability compensation and burial 
benefits at a rate equal to one-half the rate that U.S. veterans 
receive. It reinforces the long-overdue step taken by the Departments of 
Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, that authorizes the payment of these 
benefits at the full rate to Filipino veterans who have become U.S. 
citizens or are permanent residents and reside in the United States. In 
addition, this Act extends to these veterans the eligibility for burial 
in national cemeteries.

     These benefits are just a few examples of the effects that this 
comprehensive bill will have on improving benefits and services for our 
veterans. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I am pleased to sign S. 1402. 
We are indebted to our veterans for the contributions that they have 
made to protect our security and well-being.

                                                      William J. Clinton

 The White House,

 November 1, 2000.

  Note:  S. 1402, approved November 1, was assigned Public Law No. 106-
419.