H.R. 5740 would amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a program of educational assistance for members of the Armed Forces who serve in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001.
Detailed Summary
Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 - Amends federal veterans' benefits provisions to entitle to educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill certain individuals who serve on active duty in the Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001. Requires such individuals to complete the requirements of a secondary school diploma (or its equivalent) before applying for such assistance. Establishes the duration of such assistance (in most cases 36 months) and assistance amounts. Requires programs of education pursued with such assistance to be approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Allows for the pursuit of an approved program of education while on active duty. Allows, under such assistance, for the pursuit of: (1) programs on less than a half-time basis; (2) apprenticeship or other on-job training; (3) correspondence courses; (4) flight training; (5) tutorial assistance; and (6) licensure and certification tests.
Requires such educational assistance to be used within 15 years of the individual's discharge or release from active duty (with exceptions). Allows individuals currently under the Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program to elect to participate in the post-9/11 educational assistance program with respect to any unused entitlement.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 4/11/2008: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Norma Degonzague
Under the present GI Bill, many veterans who have served in Iraq and Afganistan (also the ones in that have not been in a war zone do not have the money to pay tuition to further their education. My daughter spent a lot of time outside the wire in Iraq as a broadcast journalist. She traveled with the Striker Brigade her year in Iraq. She did the footage on Hiafa street where she recieved the Combat Action Badge. One of her fellow soldiers was killed in this battle, and my daughter was missed about an inch from a bullet. She does not have the money for tuition to pursue her Master's degree. I feel these soldiers have gone to battle for our country, and deserve to further their education without a hugh financial burden place upon them.
RTO Trainer
You are absolutely correct, but this bill will hurt the services and is a poor way to accomplish that end. There are other pending bills that are better choices.
AFWeather
The current benefits are befitting a peacetime military, or it did in the 80s. Veterans deserve more now because they are sacrificing more. The 'other' bill is an attempt to co-opt the publicity and popularity of this bill, while delivering less and continuing to leave Guard and Reserve members out in the cold, comparatively speaking. It galls me because McCain is supposedly "pro-military"--of course, he was a 2nd gen grad of a service academy, what does he care about enlisted and Guard/Reserve?
RTO Trainer
In what way does it leave out Guard/Reserve? This bill explicitly leaves out anyone who served before 11 September 2001.