H.R. 12410, a bill similar to S. 9, was introduced on January 31, 1966, by Representative Olin E. Teague, of Texas. The bill was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. On February 3, 1966, the committee held hearings on "legislation to provide GI benefits for post-Korean veterans." The record of the hearings was printed in a volume of 88 pages. The Committee on Veterans' Affairs reported H.R. 12410 on February 3, 1966 (H. Rept. 1258). On February 7, 1966, the House passed S. 9, amended, in lieu of H.R. 12410. On February 10, 1966, the Senate concurred in the House amendment, with amendments. On the same date, the House agreed to the Senate amendments to the House amendment. The act was approved by the President on March 3, 1966 and became Public Law 89-358. B. SOME PRESS COMMENTS Concerning President Johnson's signing of the Veterans' Readjust ment Benefits Act, an article in the New York Times, of March 4, 1966, said in part: The program is going to be much more expensive than the version the administration advocated, but Mr. Johnson indicated in a light aside that he was not unaware of the political power of the veterans' vote. He drew laughter from a group of Senators, Representatives, Government officials and officials of veterans' groups assembled in the East Room of the White House for the signing ceremony when he declared: "This is the first major measure enacted in this session of Congress, and a President just must not ignore the unanimous vote of both Houses of Congress, the two Texas chairmen, Yarborough and Teague, and some 5 million men who will be beneficiaries, who have worn the uniform." Mr. Johnson told another group at a ceremony later in the day: "I just had my budget busted wide open this morning by my colleagues from Texas, but it was on behalf of soldiers who needed education. If it were going to be busted. It couldn't be busted for a better purpose." #1 An article in the Washington Post of March 4, 1966 hailed the "new GI bill" as "boon for Army recruiters," pointing out that: Three-year military enlistments should soar now, a Pentagon spokesman said." Commenting on features of the "new GI aid bill," Dr. Benjamin Fine, education editor, Bell-McClure Syndicate, said in part: * It is estimated that in the first year the number of veterans receiving education and training allowances will average 251,000 in any given month. This figure will rise to 413,000 by 1970. Many ex-servicemen unable to attend college because of high tuition costs may now receive a substantial scholarship, from $1,200 to $1,800 a year. C. DIGEST OF EDUCATIONAL PROVISIONS OF THE ACT The act provides a permanent program of educational assistance beginning June 1, 1966, for veterans who served on active duty for 1 Pomfret, John D., "President Signs GI Benefit Bill," New York Times, Mar. 4, 1966, p. 1. Well, Martin J., "New GI Bill of Rights Is Hailed as Boon for Army Recruiters." Washington Post, Mar. 6, 1966, p. A-20. Fine, Benjamin, "Features of New GI Aid Bill," Washington Star, Mar. 6, 1966, p. B-11. more than 180 days, any part of which was after January 31, 1955, and whose discharge or release was other than dishonorable. The act provides assistance on the basis of a month of training for a month of service, not to exceed 36 months, at monthly rates for fulltime students of $100 with no dependents, $125 with one dependent and $150 with more than one dependent. The act sets proportionate rates for less than full-time training. It sets a limit of 8 years from the date of discharge for the completion of a veteran's education under these provisions, except that for veterans discharged prior to this enactment the 8 years will begin with the effective date of this enactment. The act also makes educational assistance covering the cost of tuition available to servicemen while on active duty. D. TEXT OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROVISIONS OF THE LAW Following is the text of the provisions of Public Law 89-358 pertaining to education and training. AN ACT To provide readjustment assistance to veterans who serve in the Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Veterans' the United States of America in Congress assembled, SHORT TITLE SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the "Veterans' Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966". EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS SEC. 2. Part III of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting immediately after chapter 31 thereof the following new chapter: "Sec. "CHAPTER 34-VETERANS' EDUCATIONAL "1651. Purpose. "1652. Definitions. "SUBCHAPTER I-PURPOSE-DEFINITIONS "SUBCHAPTER II-ELIGIBILITY AND ENTITLEMENT "1661. Eligibility; entitlement; duration. "1662. Time limitations for completing a program of education. "1663. Educational and vocational counseling. Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966. 72 Stat. 1170. et seq. 38 USC 1501 "SUBCHAPTER III-ENROLLMENT "1670. Selection of program. “1671. Applications; approval. "1672. Change of program. "1673. Disapproval of enrollment in certain courses. "1674. Discontinuance for unsatisfactory conduct or progress. "1675. Period of operation for approval. "1676. Education outside the United States. 77 Stat. 135. "SUBCHAPTER IV-PAYMENTS TO ELIGIBLE VETERANS "1681. Educational assistance allowance. "1682. Computation of educational assistance allowances. "1684. Overcharges by educational institutions. "1686. Discontinuance of allowances. Subchapter I-Purpose-Definitions "§ 1651. Purpose "The Congress of the United States hereby declares that the education program created by this chapter is for the purpose of (1) enhancing and making more attractive service in the Armed Forces of the United States, (2) extending the benefits of a higher education to qualified and deserving young persons who might not otherwise be able to afford such an education, (3) providing vocational readjustment and restoring lost educational opportunities to those service men and women whose careers have been interrupted or impeded by reason of active duty after January 31, 1955, and (4) aiding such persons in attaining the vocational and educational status which they might normally have aspired to and obtained had they not served their country. "§ 1652. Definitions "For the purposes of this chapter "(a) (1) The term 'eligible veteran' means any veteran who (A) served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable or (B) was discharged or released from active duty after such date for a service-connected disability. "(2) The requirement of discharge or release, prescribed in paragraph (1)(A), shall be waived in the case of any individual who served at least two years in an active-duty status for so long as he continues on active duty without a break therein. "(3) For purposes of paragraph (1)(A) and section 1661(a), the term 'active duty' does not include any period during which an individual (A) was assigned full time by the Armed Forces to a civilian institution for a course of education which was substantially the same as established courses offered to civilians, (B) served as a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, or (C) served under the provisions of section 511(d) of title 10 pursuant to an enlistment in the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard or as a Reserve for service in the Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve. "(b) The term 'program of education' means any curriculum or any combination of unit courses or subjects pursued at an educational institution which is generally accepted as necessary to fulfill requirements for the attainment of a predetermined and identified educational, professional, or vocational objective. "(c) The term 'educational institution' means any public or private secondary school, vocational school, correspondence school, business school, junior college, teachers' college, college, normal school, professional school, university, or scientific or "(2) a dependent parent of an eligible veteran; and "Subchapter II-Eligibility and Entitlement "§ 1661. Eligibility; entitlement; duration "Entitlement "(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), each eligible veteran shall be entitled to educational assistance under this chapter for a period of one month (or to the equivalent thereof in part-time educational assistance) for each month or fraction thereof of his service on active duty after January 31, 1955. "Entitlement Limitations "(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), in no event shall an eligible veteran receive educational assistance under this chapter for a period which, when combined with education and training received under any or all of the laws listed below, will exceed thirty-six months "(1) parts VII or VIII, Veterans Regulation Numbered 1(a), as amended; "(2) title II of the Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1952; "(3) the War Orphans' Educational Assistance Act of 1956; 38 USC, 1952 Ed., ch. 12A. 38 USC 1601 et seq. "(4) chapters 31, 33, and 35 of this title. "(c) Whenever the period of entitlement under this section 38 USC 1701 of an eligible veteran who is enrolled in an educational institution regularly operated on the quarter or semester system ends during a quarter or semester, such period shall be extended to the termination of such unexpired quarter or semester. In educational institutions not operated on the quarter or semester system, whenever the period of eligibility ends after a major portion of the course is completed such period shall be extended to the end of the course or for twelve weeks, whichever is the lesser period. "(d) If an eligible veteran is entitled to educational assistance under this chapter and also to vocational rehabilitation under chapter 31 of this title, he must, if he wants either, elect whether he will receive educational assistance or vocational rehabilitation. If an eligible veteran is entitled to educational assistance under this chapter and is not entitled to such vocational rehabilitation, but after beginning his program of education becomes entitled (as determined by the Administrator) to such vocational rehabilitation, he must, if he wants either, elect whether to continue to receive educational assistance or whether 76 Stat. 509. 70A Stat. 116. Post, p. 20. to receive such vocational rehabilitation. If he elects to receive vocational rehabilitation, the program of education under this chapter shall be utilized to the fullest extent practicable in determining the character and duration of vocational rehabilitation to be furnished him. "§ 1662. Time limitations for completing a program of education "Delimiting Period for Completion "(a) No educational assistance shall be afforded an eligible veteran under this chapter beyond the date eight years after his last discharge or release from active duty after January 31, 1955. "Correction of Discharge "(b) In the case of any eligible veteran who has been prevented as determined by the Administrator, from completing a program of education under this chapter within the period prescribed by subsection (a), because he had not met the nature of discharge requirements of this chapter before a change, correction, or modification of a discharge or dismissal made pursuant to section 1553 of title 10, the correction of the military records of the proper service department under section 1552 of title 10, or other corrective action by competent authority, then the 8-year delimiting period shall run from the date his discharge or dismissal was changed, corrected, or modified. "Savings Clause "(c) In the case of any eligible veteran who was discharged or released from active duty before the date for which an educational assistance allowance is first payable under this chapter, the 8-year delimiting period shall run from such date, if it is later than the date which otherwise would be applicable. "§ 1663. Educational and vocational counseling "The Administrator may arrange for educational and vocational counseling for veterans eligible for educational assistance under this chapter. At such intervals as he deems necessary, he shall make available information respecting the need for general education and for trained personnel in the various crafts, trades, and professions. Facilities of other Federal agencies collecting such information shall be utilized to the extent he deems practicable. "Subchapter III-Enrollment "§ 1670. Selection of program "Subject to the provisions of this chapter, each eligible veteran may select a program of education to assist him in attaining an educational, professional, or vocational objective at any educational institution (approved in accordance with chapter 36 of this title) selected by him, which will accept and retain him as a student or trainee in any field or branch of knowledge which such institution finds him qualified to undertake or pursue. |