GI Bill upgrade proposed

GI Bill upgrade proposed

Member of the House Armed Services Committee Joe Wilson says the federal program that has provided education benefits to U.S. veterans is in need of an update, so he has co-sponsored a bill to do it.

Wilson, a South Carolina Republican, supports the Enhancement of Recruitment, Retention, and Readjustment Through Education Act of 2008. HR 5944, he says, builds upon the already existing Montgomery GI Bill benefit program.

"We need an updated GI Bill, and this provides for college benefit because we've had a change of course in the cost of college," the lawmaker says. "We now have an all-volunteer military ... so there are changes that can be made that can be beneficial to persons upon leaving military service. And I want to do all I can to help recruit persons to serve in the military, to help in retention," Wilson explains.

One of the key provisions of this bill, according to Wilson, is the ability of a service member to transfer their education benefits to dependents.

"It's really specific -- and that is to increase educational benefits up to $1,500 a month. And then for persons who have been in the service for 12 years or more, $2,000 a month," he explains. "There are also benefit increases for National Guard and Reserve. It provides, for after six years, that the benefit can be transferred to spouse or dependent children. It's a lot of real-world benefits that can help persons in military service and educational benefits," Wilson contends.

In addition, HR 5944 would allow service members to use up to $6,000 of their GI Bill benefits each year to repay any federal student loans they may have taken out during their college years.