I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2764

To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend to all members of the 

Armed Forces eligible for educational assistance under the Montgomery 

GI Bill the authority to transfer entitlement to such educational assistance to dependents, and to provide a six month period for enrollment 

under the Montgomery GI Bill. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 16, 2003

Mr. SMITH of Washington introduced the following bill; which was referred to 

the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee 

on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend to all 

members of the Armed Forces eligible for educational 

assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill the authority 

to transfer entitlement to such educational assistance 

to dependents, and to provide a six month period for 

enrollment under the Montgomery GI Bill.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2

•HR 2764 IH 

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Expanding Education 

3 for Military Families Act of 2003’’. 

4 SEC. 2. TRANSFER OF ENTITLEMENT TO BASIC EDU5 CATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR ALL MEMBERS 

6 OF THE ARMED FORCES. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (b) of section 3020 of 

8 title 38, United States Code, is amended—

9 (1) by striking paragraph (2); 

10 (2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as para11 graph (2); and 

12 (3) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 

13 (1). 

14 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—(1) Such section 

15 is further amended—

16 (A) in the heading, by striking 

17 ‘‘: members of the Armed Forces with critical mili18 tary skills’’; 

19 (B) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘with critical 

20 military skills’’; and 

21 (C) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘subsection 

22 (b)(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (b)(2)’’. 

23 (2) The item relating to section 3020 in the table of 

24 sections at the beginning of chapter 30 of such title is 

25 amended by striking the following:

‘‘: members of the Armed Forces with critical military skills’’.
3

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1 SEC. 3. SIX MONTH PERIOD FOR ELECTION TO ENROLL 

2 UNDER MONTGOMERY GI BILL. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The second sentence of section 

4 3011(c)(1) and section 3012(d)(1) of title 38, United 

5 States Code, are each amended to read as follows: ‘‘Any 

6 such election shall be made at any time during the 180-

7 day period that begins on the date the individual initially 

8 enters on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces.’’. 

9 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—(1) The first sen10 tence of section 3011(b) of such title is amended by insert11 ing ‘‘that begins after the individual indicates (in such 

12 form and manner as the Secretary may prescribe) the in13 tent to receive educational assistance under this chapter’’ 

14 before ‘‘that such individual is entitled to such pay’’. 

15 (2) The first sentence of section 3011(c) of such title 

16 is amended by inserting ‘‘that begins after the individual 

17 indicates (in such form and manner as the Secretary may 

18 prescribe) the intent to receive educational assistance 

19 under this chapter’’ before ‘‘that such individual is entitled 

20 to such pay’’.

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