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Evans Calls for Increased Efforts to Enhance and Modernize Veterans' Education and Training Benefits

Date: Sept. 25, 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Veterans Education


EVANS CALLS FOR INCREASED EFFORTS TO ENHANCE AND MODERNIZE VETERANS' EDUCATION AND TRAINING BENEFITS

Notes "Modest" Increase to GI Bill Payments

Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL), ranking Democratic member on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and senior member of the Armed Services Committee, today urged lawmakers to modernize and enhance the GI Bill to reflect 21st century education and workforce systems, as well as recognize the current "total force" defense policy. Evans also called attention to the annual cost of living adjustment to veterans' education benefits, scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2006.

GI Bill payments for all education programs will increase by 4 percent over last year's rates. Payment to veterans who served three years or more will increase to $1,075 a month; payments to veterans who served less than three years will increase to $873 per month; and payments to Selected Reservists will increase to $309 a month.

"While the annual cost of living adjustment for GI Bill payments is only a modest increase compared to the actual increase in tuition costs in recent years, it remains a very important tool. Without the index the GI Bill program would lose even greater purchasing power and more and more veterans would be deprived of critical education and training opportunities," said Evans.

"As a former beneficiary of the GI Bill I know how important these benefits can be to servicemembers and veterans seeking to accomplish career goals," said Evans. "Congress must continue to make veterans' education and training programs a priority in future years. I hope my colleagues will move forward on a 'total force GI Bill' which is needed due to increased activations of the Guard and Reserve and eroding purchasing power of the Selected Reserve education program," observed Evans.

Members of the House Veterans' Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee will participate in a joint hearing with the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee to examine the GI Bill and explore efforts to improve and modernize the program.

http://veterans.house.gov/democratic/press/109th/9-25-06gibill.htm

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