Arlen Specter: “I have sought recognition at this time to comment briefly on legislation that I am introducing today to increase…”

“I have sought recognition at this time to comment briefly on legislation that I am introducing today to increase educational benefits paid to veterans under the Montgomery GI bill, MGIB. This bill is the same as a bill, H.R. 1291, that was passed by the House, under the leadership of the chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Representative Chris Smith, on June 19, 2001, by a vote of 416-0. I introduce the same legislation here in the Senate, and I urge my colleagues to join with me to complete the task of increasing veterans' Montgomery GI bill benefits. This legislation, once it is fully phased in over a three year period, would increase the basic monthly benefit paid to veterans with at least three years of service who have returned to school from $650 to $1,100. With this 85 percent increase in MGIB benefits, the largest percentage increase in the history of the Montgomery GI bill, a veteran with three years of service would be able to afford the average cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board at a four-year public college or university, and still have money left over for transportation expenses or other personal expenses. The legislation would provide greater educational freedom for veterans who are constrained by the current benefit amount; it would open up the possibility of attendance at more expensive universities.”