EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Historically, The American Legion has encouraged the development of essential benefits to help attract and retain servicemembers into the Armed Services, as well as to assist them in making the best possible transition back to the civilian community.  The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, the GI Bill of Rights is an historic piece of legislation, authored by The American Legion, that enabled million of veterans to purchase their first homes, attend college, obtain vocational training, receive quality health care and start private businesses. 

The successful and timely transformation from one educational benefit program to the next, starting with the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944, the Korean Veterans, Vietnam Veterans, Veterans Educational Assistance Program, and the Montgomery GI Bill, has been competently administered and implemented by existing VA employees within the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Education Service.  Currently, VBA Education Service employs more than 700 full-time employees. Those employees have intimate knowledge of veterans often unique needs and how best to serve them.  The American Legion is extremely disappointed that the VA feels it does not have the capabilities in Education Service and Information Technology (IT) to implement this critical service. 

While The American Legion supports improving the delivery of the educational benefits it should not lead to VA removing itself from the process.  Any changes to the administration of GI Bill benefits should aim toward reaching the performance goals as outlined in the recent RFP while allowing VA to retain ownership:

• Ten (10) days or fewer to complete original claims;
• Seven (7) days or fewer to complete supplemental claims;
• A 98 percent administrative and payment accuracy rate

The American Legion also recommends that once the software and automated process is developed, VA would train its educational services personnel, so the IT component can be placed under its responsibilities.  It is important that VA retain ownership of one of its most significant and successful programs.  This New GI Bill has been hard earned and is certainly well deserved for the men and women who have protected, sacrificed, and served our country honorably.  An automated, efficient delivery of educational benefits must ultimately remain with VBA Education Service. 

 Madam Chairwoman and distinguished members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the views of The American Legion regarding the GI Bill implementation.

MONTGOMERY GI BILL

Historically, The American Legion has encouraged the development of essential benefits to help attract and retain service members into the Armed Services, as well as to assist them in making the best possible transition back to the civilian community.  The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, the “GI Bill of Rights” is an historic piece of legislation, authored by The American Legion, that enabled million of veterans to purchase their first homes, attend college, obtain vocational training, receive quality health care and start private businesses. 

The American Legion strongly supported the Montgomery GI Bill evolving with this new generation of wartime veterans because of significant changes in the country’s existing social and economic cultures.  The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 became Public Law 110-252 when the President signed H.R. 2642, the Emergency War Supplemental Appropriations Bill, on June 30, 2008.   The American Legion vigorously advocated for years for this new benefit that provides major enhancements to the package of educational assistance available to those individuals who have served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 in this country’s greatest hour of need.

The inclusion of benefits such as a full 4 years of tuition up to the cost of the most expensive public universities in the states, a full $1,000 per academic term for books and supplies, monthly housing stipends and more are precisely the sort of improvements to this system which have been so richly deserved by these courageous individuals who have sacrificed so much for their country.  We have long advocated that the country must pay back those who have been willing to selflessly answer the call to duty. 

GI BILL IMPLEMENTATION

The successful and timely transformation from one educational benefit program to the next, including the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944, the Korean veterans, Cold war, Vietnam veterans, Veterans Educational Assistance Program, and the Montgomery GI Bill, have been competently administered and implemented by existing VA employees within the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Education Service.  Currently, VBA Education Service employs more than 700 full-time employees. Those employees have intimate knowledge of veterans’ often unique educational needs and how best to serve them.  The American Legion is extremely disappointed that VA feels that it does not have the capabilities in Education Service and Information Technology (IT) to implement this critical program. 

The American Legion supports improving the delivery of educational benefits.  However, that should not lead to VA removing itself from the process.  Any changes to the administration of GI Bill benefits should aim toward reaching the performance goals as outlined in the recent RFP while allowing VA to retain ownership:

• Ten (10) days or fewer to complete original claims;
• Seven (7) days or fewer to complete supplemental claims; and
• A 98 percent administrative and payment accuracy rate.

The American Legion also recommends that once the software and automated process are developed, VA would train its educational services personnel, so the IT component can be placed under its responsibilities.  It is important that VA retain ownership of one of its most significant and successful programs. 

CONCLUSION

The American Legion strongly supported the enhancements to the Montgomery GI Bill and is grateful that the House and Senate have passed this bill, and that the President signed this vital piece of legislation on June 30, 2008.  This New GI Bill has been hard earned and is certainly well deserved for the men and women who have protected, sacrificed, and served our country honorably.  An automated, efficient delivery of educational benefits must ultimately remain within VBA Education Service.  

On behalf of The American Legion, I would like to thank the Chairwoman and this Subcommittee for presenting us with the opportunity to make our thoughts and considerations known on this manner and to thank you for taking the time to thoughtfully deliberate on the points we have made clear today.  Thank you as well for your service and good judgment on behalf of this nation’s veterans.