Carney: Next Generation's GI Bill

Press Release

CARNEY: NEXT GENERATION'S GI BILL

Carney's provisions to extend education benefits to National Guard and Reservists is included in the 2008 Department of Defense Authorization Bill

Congressman Christopher P. Carney is ending his first year in Congress with another success—his legislation for Guard and Reservists will be signed into law. "One of my first actions in Congress was to introduce bipartisan legislation to give the National Guard and Reserve members up to ten years to take advantage of their GI bill education benefits," said Congressman Carney. "What we have here is the next generation's GI Bill."

"Our National Guard members and Reservists are devoted to serving and protecting us," said Senator Bob Casey. "This bill allows them to receive the same educational benefits as the rest of our brave men and women who committed to serve active duty. I applaud Congressman Carney for his diligent work on this important issue."

Legislation

This proposal is similar to the benefits extended to active duty members of the military. Under current law, Guardsmen and Reservists lose their GI Bill benefits when they decide to leave the service or shortly there after.

Congressman Carney continued, "The National Guard and Reserve are becoming indistinguishable from active duty now—these men and women serve their country only to return and realize their education benefits are set to expire. My original legislation would better allow troops to serve their country honorably and then work toward a higher education when finished."

This legislation allows Guardsmen and Reservists who use Chapter 1607 of the GI Bill to have ten years from the time they leave their service to use their GI Bill benefits. This comes from Carney's bill H.R. 1330. It also allows Chapter 1607 of the GI Bill to continue to be provided to a member of the National Guard or Reserve who incurs a break in service and decides to rejoin their service. They will then get ten years to use their GI Bill upon separating again. This comes from Carney's bill H.R. 3099.

The benefits are retroactive to Oct. 2004, which will allow tens of thousands of Guardsman and Reservists to receive a college education. Any National Guard or Reservist who has deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan for longer than 90 days is entitled to Chapter 1607 of the GI Bill. Active duty members are already entitled to receive the GI Bill for ten years once they leave service. Carney's provision creates that same opportunity for Guardsmen and Reservists.

Timeline

Congressman Carney set to work on this legislation immediately after being sworn into office. After research and consultation with veterans groups and Committees in Congress, Carney introduced H.R. 1330 in March 2007, which gives ten year portability to Chapter 1607 of the GI Bill. The legislation was picked up by the House Committee on Armed Services and was accepted as a sense of Congress amendment in the Department of Defense Authorization bill in May 2007.

A sense of Congress indicates a willingness to make the legislation into law, but the process is extensive. Carney worked with Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania to introduce the Senate companion of the legislation in June 2007. In July 2007, Carney sought to further specify the provisions and introduced another component--H.R. 3099, The National Guard and Reserve Higher Education Fairness Act. That bill allows Chapter 1607 of the GI Bill to continue to be provided to a member of the National Guard or Reserve who incurs a break in service and decides to rejoin.

In December 2007, Congressman Carney was named a conferee to the Department of Defense Authorization bill, meaning that he would be involved in final negotiations to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the legislation. As a conferee, Carney worked with the Committee chairs and Ranking Members to see the National Guard and Reserve benefits become a reality. The provisions were included in the final copy of the legislation, which overwhelmingly passed in the House of Representatives on Thursday, December 13, 2007. The Senate is expected to pass the legislation this week and the President has indicated he will sign it into law.

Who is affected?

Currently, there are 19,000 members in the Pennsylvania National Guard. There are armories and air bases in some 90 communities in 52 counties in Pennsylvania.

Since September 11, 2001, over 17,000 Guardsmen from Pennsylvania have deployed in support of the Global War on Terror. As of November 2006, there have been 230,778 National Guard soldiers deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.

"Our Guard and Reservists have earned this benefit—and Congress should deliver it. I am proud and humbled to see that extending education benefits to Guard and Reservists is included in the 2008 Department of Defense Authorization Bill. I can't thank Senator Casey, Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member Duncan Hunter enough for recognizing the importance of this provision and including it in the conference report for final passage," said Carney.

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