Daniel Akaka: “I am delighted to be an original cosponsor of the amendment offered by the distinguished senior Senator from Virginia…”

“I am delighted to be an original cosponsor of the amendment offered by the distinguished senior Senator from Virginia which would clarify that the provisions in current law regarding the transferability of educational assistance benefits to family members would apply to the new GI bill for the 21st century. This amendment would further give the Department of Defense the ability to conduct a 2-year test of somewhat expanded transferability options to individuals who have completed 4 years of active duty service, who agree to complete an additional 6 years of service, and who meet such additional criteria as the Secretary of Defense establishes. I have consistently stated that I believe that transferability can be an important retention tool for the military and that the provisions of current law would apply to the provisions in S. 22 as revised. However, I have also noted that there is no data that demonstrate the retention value of the transferability option.”