Washington, Apr 3, 2007 -  

U.S. Congressman Pat Tiberi (R-OH) today announced his cosponsorship of H.R.1102, the Total Force Educational Assistance Enhancement and Integration Act of 2007 that would better match education benefits for certain Reserve and Guard members with their increased service.

“Throughout the War on Terror, we’ve been relying on our National Guard and Reserve to take on an increased role in service to our country and it’s time their benefits reflect their expanded commitment,” said Congressman Tiberi. “More than a half million members of the Guard and Reserve have been called to active duty since September 11^th and 70,000 have served multiple tours of duty. This bill would better align their educational benefits based on their active service.”

This bill, introduced by U.S. Congressman Vic Snyder (D-AR), would

• Combine reserve programs with the active duty program under Title 38 (Veterans Administration) to ensure improvements could be synchronized between the two and would provide a clearer alignment of education benefit levels based on service rendered.
• Right now, reserve benefits are administered through the Veterans Administration, while active duty benefits are administered through the Department of Defense. This measure would streamline the benefit system creating standardized tiers of eligibility.
• Provide a 10-year portability of Chapter 1607 benefits for mobilized members of the National Guard and Reserve once they become veterans at separation from service or retirement.
• Currently members of the Guard and Reserve are denied their education benefits once they finish their service while active duty troops have 10 years after their service to use their education benefits. This bill would equalize the benefit promise.
• Enable Guard and Reservists who serve on active duty for at least 90 days to receive a month-for-month active duty benefit for up to 36-months. For example, a Reservist who serves 18 months on active duty would get 18 months of education benefit and could use the benefit for 10 years after leaving the service.
• Currently mobilized Reserve and Guard members only receive a portion of active duty benefits based on a percentage formula. Again, this bill would address the inequality of the current benefit system.

The bill is now being considered by the House Veterans’ Affairs and House Armed Services Committees.