Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008
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This article documents proposed legislation that is currently being considered. Information may change rapidly as the course of legislation progresses. |
The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 would amend Part III of Title 38, United States Code, to expand the educational benefits for military veterans who have served since September 11, 2001. The bill is an attempt to pay for veterans' college expenses to a similar extent that the original G.I. Bill did after World War II.
Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), a highly decorated Vietnam veteran and former Secretary of the Navy, originally introduced the Senate bill in 2007 as S 22.
A House companion bill was introduced by Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA). It passed as an amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 as Amendment 3 to HR 2642 and passed on May 15, 2008 on a vote of 256 to 166.[1] [2]
The Senate bill was included in HR 2642 as S. Amdt. 4818 and passed the Senate on May 22, 2008 on a 75-22 vote.[3] [4]
The Associated Press noted that "because of the differences between the two versions, it will take weeks to pass a final compromise, which President Bush is expected to veto, and then send him one he can sign."[5]
President Bush has threatened to Veto the bill, but recently the white house has signaled he might be willing to sign it along with the war funding bill. He would like to see transferability between spouses and dependents added onto the GI Bill. This would make it more valuable to career military personal that would like to pay for their spouse or child's education.[6]
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[edit] Overview
The bill is an attempt to give returning war veterans the same benefits of the original G.I. Bill. The current Montgomery G.I. Bill (MGIB) has been a source of debate over the last decade as it falls far short of the cost of a 4-year college education. The new bill would pay full college tuition for the most expensive in-state public college for qualifying service members. As an incentive to attract more co-sponsors, provisions were added where the government would provide matching funds to private colleges that agree to pay half the difference between their tuition and the amount covered by the new GI Bill. The bill would also include a monthly living stipend equal to that of a married E-5 in the active duty military.
As the bill has picked up momentum, it has grabbed the attention of some DOD officials and President Bush. They argue the measures would be a "retention killer" in a time when retention is critical for the Military. Senator Webb responded, "Recent studies show that 70% of all enlisted members get out at or before their initial enlistment." Among the naysayers is presidential hopeful Senator John McCain(R-AZ) who has even introduced a similar, but much weaker bill.
The bill has recently received support from many Nationwide Organizations such as AMVETS, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), and the Student Veterans of America (SVA).
[edit] Bill summary
The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 would improve educational benefits for certain individuals who serve on active duty in the Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001.
The main bill benefits include:
- Four academic years of educational benefits for an approved program up to the cost of the most expensive in-state public school.
- 50% coverage of additional tuition at more expensive private schools.
- A monthly living stipend based on housing costs in the area based on rank E-5 housing allowance levels for the area of the learning institution.
- A benefit eligibility period of 15 years after leaving active duty (compared to 10 years in the current Montgomery GI Bill).
- Elimination of the $1200 program enrollment fee paid by the veteran at the beginning of military service currently required by the Montgomery GI Bill.
- A $1000 dollar annual book/supplies stipend.
The eligibility requirements would include:
- Requiring individuals to complete the requirements of a secondary school diploma (or its equivalent) before applying for such assistance.
- Full benefit eligibility after 36 months of active duty service beginning on or after September 11, 2001.
- Proportional benefit eligibility for service between 3 and 35 months active duty on or after September 11, 2001.
[edit] Current Status
[edit] Section Breakdown
Section 3001: Short title - "Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008."
Section 3002: Educational Assistance for Members of the Armed Forces Who Serve After September 11, 2001. This section adds a new Chapter 33 (entitled "Post 9/11 Educational Assistance") to Title 38 of the U.S. Code, with the following new sections:
Section 3301: Definitions. This section provides definitions of key terms.
Section 3311: Educational assistance for service in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001 - entitlement. This section prescribes multiple categories of veterans entitled to educational benefits under this Act. In general, to qualify, veterans must have served at least two years of active duty, with at least some period of active duty time served beginning on or after September 11, 2001.
Section 3312: Educational assistance - duration. Veterans are entitled to receive educational assistance for a period of time that is linked to their entitlement, as measured by Section 3311 above. In general, veterans may not receive assistance for more than a total of 36 months, which equals 4 academic years.
Section 3313: Educational assistance - payment and amount. In general, veterans may receive monetary assistance to pursue an approved program of education as follows: (i) payments covering the established charges of the program, (ii) room and board, and (iii) a monthly stipend of $1,000. [Note that these are basically the same benefits paid to World War II veterans.] This Section prescribes the timing of such payments and revised payment guidelines related to less-than-half-time education, apprenticeships, on-the-job-training, correspondence school, and flight training.
Section 3314: Tutorial assistance. Veterans may receive additional payment for tutorial assistance, not to exceed $100/month, for a maximum of 12 months, or until a maximum of $1,200 is used.
Section 3315: Licensure and certification tests. Veterans may receive payment for one licensing or certification test, not to exceed the lesser of $2,000 or the test fee.
Section 3321: Time limitation for use of and eligibility for entitlement. Veterans have 15 years (as measured under the provisions of this Section) to use their educational entitlement.
Section 3322: Bar to duplication of educational assistance benefits. Veterans who receive educational benefits under this Act may not receive concurrent assistance under another similar program; instead, veterans must elect one program over another.
Section 3323: Administration. This Section: (i) gives guidance on interpreting operative terms, and (ii) instructs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide information to veterans regarding this Act's educational benefits, and to prescribe regulations to carry out this Act.
Section 3324: Allocation of administration and costs. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall administer this program, and payments shall be made from funds made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the payment of readjustment benefits. This Section also prescribes ways for veterans to choose to elect into this Act's program from the existing Montgomery G.I. Bill program.
