Published: 05-01-08
Bipartisan legislation helps more military personnel attend college debt-free allows those who remain on active duty to transfer benefits to family
WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee joined several Senate colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to expand education benefits for military personnel and veterans. The Enhancement of Recruitment Retention and Readjustment through Education Act S. 2938 will enhance the existing Montgomery G.I. Bill to improve benefits for active duty service members veterans and members of the National Guard and Reserve. Sen. Cornyn is an original co-sponsor.
“This legislation makes critical enhancements to the G.I. Bill to ensure that today’s military personnel and veterans receive the education benefits they deserve” Sen. Cornyn said. “This bill updates existing benefits to better empower service members through education assists their families and sustains our all volunteer force.”
The legislation will help more military personnel attend college debt-free and allow them to transfer their education benefits to their spouse or children. It also bolsters recruitment and retention efforts encouraging service members to continue their military careers.
Sen. Cornyn added “We need to reward both service members who leave the military and those who decide to make the military a career. Our troops have answered the call of duty and they deserve no less.”
The Enhancement of Recruitment Retention and Readjustment through Education Act includes:
• An immediate increase in education benefits for active duty personnel to $1500 a month and to improve retention those benefits increase to $2000 a month after 12 or more years of service.
• Significantly increased education benefit for members of the National Guard and Reserve (Plus $500 a month for books).
• Transferability the ability of service members to transfer their education benefits to dependents. After 6 years up to 18 months of benefits may be transferred and after 12 years up to 36 months of benefits may be transferred to a spouse or dependent children.
• Student loan repayment. Allows service members to use up to $6000 per year of Montgomery G.I. Bill education benefits to repay federal student loans.
• Creation of a matching program to help more veterans graduate debt-free. Up to an additional $3000 per year could be paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs in return for the school retiring some or all of the service member’s debt.
• Access to Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits for service academy graduates and Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps officers who continue serving.
• Expansion on existing educational benefits program to ensure rapid implementation with minimal additional administrative costs.
