Chairwoman Sandlin, Ranking Member Boozman, and distinguished members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss my bill, H.R. 3813, the Veterans Training Act.

Passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill marked one of the highlights of my first term as a United States Congressman. While I strongly opposed the war in Iraq, I have always voted to provide our brave men and women who wear the Cloth of this Nation the tools they need to succeed, both on the battlefield and in returning to civilian life. As a former Admiral, who served in the United States Navy for 31 years, I have no higher priority than the welfare of our Veterans.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is the most extensive educational assistance program authorized since the original GI Bill was signed into law in 1944, and it is a vital tool for our Nation’s Veterans as they transition from military to civilian careers. The maximum benefit allows every eligible Veteran, servicemember, reservist, and National Guard member an opportunity to receive an in-state, undergraduate education at a public institution at no cost. Provisions of the program include payments for tuition and fees, housing, and a books and supplies stipend.

Particularly in these challenging economic times, this bill provides our Veterans the opportunity to realize the futures they put on hold in order to serve our Nation. Additionally, it is a just reward for their heroic service. Unlike in wars of the past, our servicemembers in the field in Iraq and Afghanistan go outside the wire every day. The trauma and stress inflicted upon our brave soldiers, through asymmetrical threats such as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), have led to record levels of military suicides, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), and instances of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The situation has only been aggravated by lengthy deployments and insufficient dwell time.

These men and women were there for us; we need to be there for them. Passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill was a monumental achievement; however, as with so many other programs, there is room for improvement. Currently, students attending postsecondary education institutions that do not grant associate or higher degrees, such as vocational-technical schools, career schools, and apprenticeship programs, are not eligible for benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This is unfair, because these kinds of programs have always been included in the traditional Montgomery GI Bill.

My bill, H.R. 3813, would fix this inequity and allow students to participate in the postsecondary educational program of their choice. Many of our returning Veterans may want to pursue a trade, such as truck driving, automobile or aviation maintenance, cosmetology, nursing, or construction. These Veterans may have families to support, military skills they wish to transition into a civilian career, or they may simply wish to forgo traditional college education in favor or a shorter, more entrepreneurial program. Whatever their motivation, there is no reason to deny these brave men and women the maximum flexibility in determining how to utilize their hard-won ?and well-deserved – benefits. They should be permitted to pursue short-term certificate and diploma programs --and thus, their next career?at the institutions of their choice, which is exactly what my bill would authorize.   

Finally, it is worth noting that since all institutions and programs under the GI Bills must be certified by the State Approving Agency (SSA), there is always a detailed review by a government agency to ensure that all state and federal requirements are complied with. To that end, this session I have also introduced H.R. 4571, the “GI Bill Enhancement Act of 2010,” to raise the cap on Department of Veteran Affairs funding for SSAs, which has remained stagnant since the passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This measure would improve implementation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, particularly if H.R. 3813 is signed into law and certification of non-degree granting institutions becomes mandatory.

H.R. 3813 is a common-sense measure that would expand one of our Nation’s proudest legislative achievements by providing parity between the Post-9/11 GI Bill and its previous incarnations. It has been endorsed by the National Association of State Approving Agencies and the Pennsylvania Association of Private School Administrators.

The original post-World War II GI Bill did not just help our Veterans. It was one of this Nation’s most effective investments in our citizens. It helped create a generation of innovators, pioneers and artists, as well as a workforce that remains unmatched in the world. I expect nothing less from the Post-9/11 GI Bill and consider it our duty, to our Veterans and our Nation, to make it the best it can be. I urge the committee to report H.R. 3813 favorably at the earliest opportunity. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.