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S. 1261, The Montgomery GI Bill for Life Act of 2007
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Visitor Comments
Gene
As a ten year verteren of the Air Force and Father of 4 I can attest to the fact that a ten year period after leaving the military may seem like a lot of time to finish education, but in actuality it is not.
I am no rushing to finish as much school as I can before the ten year period is up. Unfortunately I will end up paying for four months myself.
Zach
When you look at the return on investment (ROI) of what you have paid into the GI Bill fund vs. what you have received, this is a great opportunity (even with four months out of pocket potentially). I feel satisfied and lucky to have had the opportunity to complete my college degree using the GI Bill. I still have 7-9 months left of benefits, but won't complain if I never see it. I made out well on the ROI with the GI Bill.
Chad
How about amending it to allow the use of the full benefit, or even a penalized benefit, to allow a spouse or other dependent realize the benefit?
Todd Al-Hamed
This Act to repeal current GI Bill benefits is confusing. I want hard facts before a sway to the yea or na side of the issue. What happens to those of us who are veterans and meet the criteria for this bill? Are we out of luck or do we get 12 months tacked on to the original 36 that was negotiated before the bill was thought of? If not, are we atleast entitled to a refund of the intial 1200 dollars we invested into the program? This deal seems to cover much more than the Chapter 30 does. Book, room and board? I am starting to feel like I am about to be dooped out of something I deserve to be a part of. Can anyone help understand what is going to happen to the vets that are currently recieving GI benefits and meet the requirement of this new bill (if it passes). I would greatly appreciate it. My email is: toddalhamed@yahoo.com
William
I have to agree with Gene. The ten year time limit comes very quickly if you are needing to get to work full time once exiting. I am fortunate in that I get state benefits for school due to my expired GI Bill status (Hazlewood Act). I would still like to see the ten year limit repealed for those who don't have the advantage of a state sponsored program.
Randy Spire
The ten year time limit definitely seemed like a great deal of time to me when I was active duty and in my late teens, but the reality is that ten years is only a drop in the bucket when the myriad responsibilities of life are thrust upon you following military service. I served active duty for four years and in the national guard for an additional two and I had every intention of utilizing every dime of my GI Bill but never used one. The reality is that I wanted to go to school many times, but wasn't able to consider it as the cost of living and the need for employment to cover that cost far outweighed the benefits offered by the program. Now that I live in a place that, with minimal part-time employment, I can attend school full-time, I no longer have access to the funding that I most definitely could use and am forced to live at the poverty level to pursue my degree.
Tim L.
I am a retired Marine. My initial term of service was for three years (1975-1978). I got out for approximately four years before reenlisting in 1983. I served an additional 17+ years before my retirement in 2000.I am currently attending ITT technical institute and have been denied my benifits due to a clause unknown to me that the four and one half years (inactive reserves)would be held against that ten years. Therefore, reducing that time to five and one half years. instead of ten years from last date of active duty as advertised. Subsequently, I am obligated to pay my tuition for my education. I feel cheated to say the least. I am in support of passing this bill. This could help a lot of service members gain education that they have missed out on. By the way, I'm enhancing my readiness in communications and can be recalled to active duty until I'm deceased.
Judy Losee
I have raqised my children and would love to return to school. This bill would help myself and others immensely.
Thanks to all who are working for this. I hope that it can be put into law.
Shannon
I got divorced about a year after I was discharged from the Navy. Then I was a single parent juggling a full-time job, a part-time job, and a toddler. Tried to go to night classes, couldn't. Now my 10 years is up, and I'm finally able to go to school! So far, in the past year and a half I've taken out over $10,000 in student loans. When I finish school and have to start paying them back, the toddler mentioned above will be going to college. The GI Bill was certainly not worth the money I had taken from my paycheck. It would help if I could use it now, though.
Geoffrey
Did any of you read the bill? The title is misleading to a shameful degree.
You have to be enrolled in a course at year 10 and you can claim your benefit until the end of the semester. Benefit for life, not by a long shot.
We as veterans who paid into the program, should have access to the whole amount until we are in the ground. Thirty percent of us don't see a thin dime of this benefit.
This bill is a feel-good, do little, "look what I did for the vets" re-election sound bite. They need to go back to the drawing board and write a bill that does what it's title claims it does.
Okinawa Joe
I read the bill as well, and I was hoping I was confused about the "end of the semester" part. Here's what Cantwell had to say from a quote on her website:
"The GI Bill for Life, would ensure that educational opportunities are lifelong, allowing service members and veterans the flexibility to seek education and job training opportunities when it is the right time for them to do so.”
In her statement introducing the Bill, Cantwell said:
"That is why I'm reintroducing the Montgomery GI Bill for Life Act of 2007, which would allow Montgomery GI Bill participants an unlimited amount of time to use their earned benefits."
The full text from her statement before Congress, as well as a link to the Bill itself is here:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=110-s20070501-34
You can track the full status of the Bill as it moves through Congress here:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-1261
Okinawa Joe
The verbiage from the Bill reads exactly as Geoffery described ...
`(a) If an individual eligible for educational assistance under this chapter is enrolled in an educational institution regularly operated on the quarter or semester system and the period of such individual's entitlement under this chapter would, under section 3013 of this title, expire during such quarter or semester, such period shall be extended to the end of such quarter or semester.
`(b) If an individual eligible for educational assistance under this chapter is enrolled in an educational institution not regularly operated on the quarter or semester system and the period of such individual's entitlement under this chapter would, under section 3013 of this title, expire after a major portion of the course is completed, such period shall be extended to the end of the course or for 12 weeks, whichever is the lesser period of extension.'
Russ
Family and job obligations made it impossible to complete college during 10 year period. Served 4 years in Marines with honorable discharge in 1979. I would very much like to return to college and complete a degree using the GI Bill benefit that I earned, but comments from Geoffery indicate this bill may not be retroactive. I hope this bill is passed for future veterans, including my son who is currently in Marines. But I also think it should include previous veterans who have fallen through the cracks and deserve another chance to complete their education. If you earn it, you should be able to use it without exceptions or restrictions.
Judy Losee
I would like to take my previous thank you back. Has anyone actually read this? This bill is not "for life." You know it is an election year when you read this bill in it's entirity. It extends payment for the semester someone is enrolled in.....nothing more. It will in no way help any of us who have expired benefits. I really think this is a farce generated to get the veteran vote. Hopefully vets will read the bill and not be taken in so easily. It is humiliating to see taht our officials think we are this gullible.
Grant
When I was in the service the G.I. Bill was 'worth' $12,800 total. I used about $11,000 on an associates degree. I think it was good. However, it was never explained to me that when the G.I. Bill amounts went up to first $25k and then $30k and so on, someone still within the 10 years could take advantage of those increases. If I had known, I certainly would have used those funds. Because it's not that I don't feel I got my money's worth; but in this fast paced society, everyone needs all the help they can get. Besides, statistically, most veterans never use their money, and therefore there is plenty 'in the pot' for the government to make these funds available FOR LIFE!
P.S. I found out about my unused money at about 11 years after... NICE! You'd think a quick letter that I have funds available ($19k or more) wouldn't be too much to ask.
Grant (again)
By the way, I did read the bill, it does NOT seem to help almost ANYONE wanting to go back to school. It only mentions someone reaching their 10 year limit while in school. It essentially lets them finish the semester they're in. And it gives disabled veterans the right to use the money apparently "for life". But, for the regular Joe (ONCE AGAIN) it doesn't help at all.
Is it just me, or is there NEVER any help for regular folks. You gotta be disabled, minority (not that I have any problems with the help they DO get), or anything but OK and average, to get any help.
But, "Yes Judy, politicians DO think that we are gullible. But even more so, we're so overworked we can't take much time at all to be reading bills in their entirity; if we can even find them online." We got a lotta work to do to make this system actually work... and it isn't looking too good."
Beastomode
10 Years is enough. I'm a former Marine and now National Guardman who used the GI Bill and earned a degree. If you want to have babies and get married go ahead. College is about making sacrafices not creating them and then going to school.
Okinawa Joe
Hey Beastomode ~ Glad that worked out for you. Life is more about just College, and it does indeed include marriage and children. I'm also a former Marine, and 10 years may have been enough, though I wasn't able to use any more than 5% of my benefits. Mainly because the VA won't fund technical programs outside of the US that do not directly lead to a degree. And for me, obtaining the CCIE and CISSP certs were, and continue to be much more valuable than a degree. So I have 30+K in unused entitlement which expires at the end of the month, though I've invested as much of my own money on my professional education over the past 10 years. Now that the VA is recognizing the value of technical programs to veterans in the job market they have begun approving such programs, though not in time for me ... times are a changin my friend. I'm making more money in a field that I love than most of my peers with Masters or Doctorates. And I get to enjoy it all with my family.
Okinawa Joe
The moral of the story here has nothing to do with whether 10 years is enough or not ... It's about lying politicians using bait and switch tactics to try to garner votes during an election year.
Cantwell is a big fat liar ...
I read the bill as well, and I was hoping I was confused about the "end of the semester" part. Here's what Cantwell had to say from a quote on her website:
"The GI Bill for Life, would ensure that educational opportunities are lifelong, allowing service members and veterans the flexibility to seek education and job training opportunities when it is the right time for them to do so.”
Or is she just ignorant? Either case, she has no business being in any leadership capacity, and deserves to be removed from office.
Robert in Austin Texas
I agree with a lot of the comments on here. The bill reads rather strange. It is almost like a technical extension that will not help people like me. I left the military honorably in 1996 and had to help my ailing parents financially up until 2005. By that time when I started my education I was playing beat the clock and lost. I have an appeal in Washington right now but the latest status is they are 2 YEARS behind in appeals. I will be finished with school before my appeal is heard. Something has to change! Write to Senator Cantwell from Washington state and express your support and comments.
Gary Pettigrew
The G.I. bill is well earned by personnel in the armed forces.
To Okinawa Joe
Please read ALL of the bill. The sections of the bill that concern 'Striking' sections of the original law do exaqctly that, ammend the G.I. Bill law by striking the language in it that sets the ten year time limit. The law really does do what she says it does.
Sean Womble
I am having trouble getting it completely myself. Is this bill going to do away with the ten year time limit? Like the gentleman above, I got out in 1996 and worked shift work for 7 of my 10 years. I am now trying to go to school and paying for it myself.
Jay
I'm tired of reading these comments. Couldn't complete a degree in 10 years? That's a decade. A 1/7th of the average person's life. You could go through high school again 2 1/2 times. THE PROBLEM is not the bill. It's the dedication, fortitude, time management, organization, winning attitude that you've either 1) Lost since serving your county or 2) Skated through your term in service without it. YOU COULD theoretically get a BA in 10 years by taking one class a semester (including summer) if you had to. If you had "IT."
Sean Womble
Jay, You ever worked shift work? Probably not. If your tired of reading these comments then don't tuff guy. Southern Swing is the shift rotation that I worked for 8 of the ten years that I could have used my GI Bill. Do a little research on this particular shift rotation and realize that you have no idea of what events have taken place in the lives of the people that you are tired of hearing reading comments from.
Robert in Austin Texas
Hey Jay, you know what I am tired of reading? Comments like yours that look down on those of us that do other things to help family or try to survive in life when the cost of living keeps rising fast and the pay rises slow. I have dedication and fortitude and NO I didn't loose them in the military. My dedication and fortitude simply changed to my parents who were dealing with my father's disease. And YES my mother went through it with him. Pretty profound for someone who "SKATED" by huh? I suggest you do a little more research before you go running your mouth because much like those politicians that voted for this sham of a war, you can't take your comments back now. If you have a problem reading these comments, then click to another website. And by the way my family tends to live well into their 90's so that would make it 1/9th of my life. Guess that makes me above average huh?
Gene
Something which must be mentioned is not only our government's willingness to invest in the education of it's prior service members, but also it's willingness to educate the rest of the population.
Many benefits are realized with a well educated population. Many other countries realize this. Ours used to strive for an educated democracy. But like many other ideals this one has slipped to the wayside.
How can you justify spending billions of dollars on other seemingly irrelevant programs and not be willing to educate the population?
Sorry, just my two cents worth from a taxpayer who is in the 25% tax bracket and feels that there is more that my country can be doing for itself.
SDB97642005
THIS GI BILL EXTENSION WOULD HELP THE 70% OF VETS WHO....FOR VARIOUS REASONS, WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE FUND, WHO DIDNT ACCESS THEIR GI BILL, FINALLY USE THEIR BENEFITS. EDUCATION IS A LIFETIME THING. PEOPLE LEARN NEW THINGS EVERYDAY.TO PUT A "LIMIT" ON THE GI BILL IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE FOR PERSONAL GROWTH FOR THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO "THEIR" FUND. THE GI BILL SHOULD BE GUARANTEED FOR LIFE!!!AS THE HOME LOAN. ITS A NO-BRAINER.
ShawnJason
I happily served 7 years in the Navy on three ships. Had a great time. I was unable to use my GI Bill Benefits because after the Navy I got a job on offshore oil rigs. There is really no way I could have gone to college. now that I have gotten my kids, I go to college full time and hold a full time job on land. BUT... I can't use my GI Bill because it's been 10 years. I wish laws would just pass without all the legalese speak and clauses. Just give us what we're entitled to. I'm damn proud of all the Americans that chose to serve something bigger than themselves. Thank you Veterans!
ETS Joe
I agree with all the statements 100% everyone has unique circumstances that curve our ability to attend and complete our education. I have been browsing through all of these blogs and noticed something that has not been mentioned and that is the amount of people who invested their $1,200 for that education benefit and we’re NOT honorably discharged and subsequently lost that benefit. That money is pooled up somewhere, right? Why can’t they tap that resource to allow an extended period for the soldier, sailor and marine’s who did in fact honorably separate? I separated after 9 years of honorable service and I too see how 10 years is not as long as it once seemed.
ex-army
I ETS'ed about 6 years ago. I've been working on my degree, but Don't think I'll finish before the ten year mark. (I continue taking one at a time online)
But, like many of those that posted before me life gets in the way... family member with cancer, helping out of work family members due to economic slowdowns (cutbacks), medical bills, ect... To keep up I've worked two full time jobs, and I by no means live comfortably.
Such is life, and I'm not complaining, but...
It would be nice for all veterans to be able to use their benefits that they are promised at any time in life in which they are able to do so.
Best of luck to everyone in their own pursuits. :)
ex-Air Force
It should be for life, case closed, no discussion.
Tomcat
Gotta love the few "I got mine, too bad you didn't" posts up here.
And Jay, the rule monger: "You didn't follow the rule, you didn't have the fortitude." Where do you draw the line? If one were kidnapped and taken to Columbia for 10 years, then released, still "Too bad, you shoulda escaped."?
The system is way fat in the black. How about letting it help more of the people who opted in?
big pete
I like many commenting on this issue have allowed some 30 years to pass since I left the military and took only several semesters of college courses. Then it was babies in diapers and homework around feedings and the time simply was not right to attend school. While I have been fortunate enough to have worked in a good government job for the past 31 years, retirement looms in the balance and it would certainly be beneficial for those of us who wish to pursue "something else" after retiring to be able to go back and capitalize on the benefits we not only paid into but earned through our unselfish sacrifice to our beloved country. Frankly, at age 20, it is difficult to realize just how valuable an education is at that point in a young life. And finally, I would be remiss if I failed to add that the government gives out millions in educational benefits to thousands of individuals just due to ethnicity and economic status. Are we not just as worthy to be a recipient???
Bill
I served my country for 13 years without expiration or disclaimers. Why should the benefits I earned voluntarily expire? Did the value of my time served diminish?
Ryan
The GI Bill already allows someone at the 10 year mark to complete the semester if they are enrolled at that time, so thats understood.
If the GIB expiration date were extended for another 5-10 years, that would work for me. I agree that it is difficult to go to school while working, but if you can swing it, you just can't beat an extra $1560 a month tax free!
I will have used 27 months of my 36 month benefit this December, when I hit the 10 year mark. It would be really nice to complete my degree using the program, but I didnt plan my exit from the Navy very wisely. I bought a car I couldnt afford and had a couple of credit cards because life on a ship, as a junior sailor, sucked! I played and now I pay.
The program might risk insolvency if there is not a sunset clause in the benefit. I dont think 15 or 20 years is outrageous, or perhaps extending the benefit for 2 years after last activity...something like that would be great!
Brett
I actually quit my job and went back to school to use my GI Bill and finished my bachelor's just in time. I also did this while raising two boys as a single parent. I took out student loans and worked part time to accomplish this. Yes, life is unexpected and time consuming but completing school was a priority I made for myself and my boys future.
I have nothing negative to say to anyone who hasn't used it as we all walk in different shoes and end up down different paths.
At least now I can not only talk to my boys about college, but rather show them the rewards of finishing. I am thankful for the GI Bill and that I had and used the benefit not given to civilians. I served for 5 yrs.
I would like to believe those who have served should have certain en- GI Bill time frame should be extended at a minimum - 5 yrs minimum - 10 years would be better.titlements with reasonable limits
mizzday
I have had the same experience as all of the other veterans as far a s losing benefits. Being a single parent, by the time I was able to return to school and use my benefits, it was too late. I think the GI bill should be a life time benefit.
Vette
I was in school when my GI Bill Benefits were about to expire. I sent a letter and so did my school requesting to have my benefits extended but the requests were denied. In order to finish school, I had no choice but to take out student loans. If this bill is passed will it cover paying back my student loans since my request to extend my GI Bill benefits were denied?