MGIB Legislation

MGIB LEGISLATION -- (Extensions of Remarks - April 25, 2006)

* Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an inequity facing America's men and women in uniform who seek an education in return for their military service.

* For years, the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) has allowed thousands of men and women in uniform attend college or to receive vocational training to prepare for a new career after the military.

* It is an excellent program and one we must preserve.

* However, Mr. Speaker, I would like to remedy an inequity that exists in this program with legislation I am introducing today.

* To receive the benefits of the Montgomery GI Bill, our service members must pay $1,200 to $1,800 into the program at the beginning of their military service.

* A $100 is deducted each month from their military pay for the first 12 months, for example.

* With the legislation I offer today, our service members would still make the initial contribution. However, this contribution would no longer count against them later on when they apply for federal student aid.

* In many cases, Mr. Speaker, the Montgomery GI Bill alone does not cover the cost for college or job training. Our service members must also apply for federal student aid to cover tuition and other expenses.

* The Department of Education considers their benefits from the Montgomery GI Bill as ``income''--thereby reducing the amount they are eligible to receive from federal student aid programs.

* This legislation goes back to the $1,200 out-of-pocket contribution that a service member made to become eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill.

* It is not fair to ask our service members to pay the original amount out of their own pocket and then penalize them for it later on.

* This bill would simply exempt the original contribution that came from their own pocket from the Department of Education's income consideration.

* This legislation does not present significant cost to the federal government but would go a long way to help America's individual service members afford college.

* I offered the provisions contained in this legislation as part of the College Access and Opportunity Act (H.R. 609) when it was on the House floor.

* Unfortunately, the amendment was not accepted, but I plan to pursue the issue until we correct this inequity.

* Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take just a moment to thank those who have worked on this issue and who have pushed for the exemption in the past.

* I am proud to offer this legislation along with Ranking Member Lane Evans of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

* Mr. Evans and his staff have been seeking a remedy for this inequity for several years.

* Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to offer legislation benefiting America's military service members and helping them to attend college or receive job training.

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