Max Cleland: “I thank Chairman Warner and ranking member Levin for their hard work during the Department of Defense authorization…”

“I thank Chairman Warner and ranking member Levin for their hard work during the Department of Defense authorization process this year. They have done a tremendous job in enhancing the quality of life for our military personnel and their families. I appreciate the support of Senators Levin, Bingaman, Reed, and Robb, who have cosponsored my GI bill enhancements which we are about to adopt. Specifically, I recognize the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the distinguished Senator from Virginia, Mr. Warner, who himself went to school on the GI bill after World War II. I thank him for his support and his encouragement in improving the GI bill for military personnel and their families. My amendment will improve and enhance the current educational benefits and create the GI bill for the 21st century. One of the most important provisions of my amendment would give the service Secretaries the authority to authorize a service member to transfer his or her basic Montgomery GI bill benefits to family members. It will make the GI bill for the first time family friendly. This will give the Secretaries of the services a very powerful retention tool.”