Show Defense Authorization Bill HR is a veterans veteran's education assistance measure The House may have an opportunity to vote on a new GI Bill which was ordered reported out of the House Armed Services Committee today almost al almost almost al- al most 11 months after it received the unanimous approval of th the House Hose Committee on Veterans' Veterans Affairs The education assistance measure for th the All All- Volunteer All Force is included as a part of the FY 85 Defense Authorization tion Bill HR I 1 am extremely pleased with the support I received from my Committee colleagues said the author of the measure following an overwhelming 34 to 3 vote by the Full Committee Congressman Sonny Montgomery MS D-MS Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Veteran's Affairs and leader of the proponents for a new educational assistance program said This legislation legislation legislation leg leg- presents a grand opportunity to insure that we have quality military military military mili mili- tary manpower in the numbers needed for a sound national defense It provides provides provides pro pro- vides incentive to fill our active and reserve programs and its it's a solid investment investment investment in in- in- in vestment in the future It just makes good sense to plan ahead The Montgomery GI bill would provide a basic educational entitlement of per month up to 36 months for high school graduates or those with a GED diploma with 3 years of military service For Guard and Reserve personnel the basic entitlement would be per month for up to 36 months with a commitment for 6 years of service The effective date for both would be October 1 1984 To help retain quality personnel the measure offers a discretionary supplemental supplemental supplemental sup sup- benefit of per month for an additional 5 years of service There is a kicker to the basic entitlement of up to per month and to the supplemental benefit of up to per month both for targeted person person- nel An innovative provision of the legislation tion is a transferability clause that allows a spouse or children to take advantage of the earned benefits after the member has completed 10 years of servi service e. e This provision is also for targeted personnel The passage of this legislation will solve the problem of extending the Vietnam GI Bill for those now serving on active duty said Montgomery The benefits in this measure will be better than those in the current pro pro- gram The most recent statistics indicate that a total of more than 18 million veterans have received GI Bill assistance in readjusting to civilian life and restoring lost educational opportunities According to the Veterans Administration Administration Administration Admin Admin- these veterans return to the Federal Treasury at least three thre times the amount spent on V VA A educational benefits due to additional taxes paid from higher income because of better education and training According to Congressman Montgomery As a recruiting device the lure of a college education is much more attractive than enlistment and reenlistment bonuses and this measure gives us much more of a return on money spent The Defense Authorization Bill is expected to come before the House for consideration after the Easter recess |