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35–637 2008

ACCELERATED EDUCATION BENEFITS 

FOR VETERANS 

HEARING 

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY 

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS 

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS 

FIRST SESSION 

May 3, 2007 

Serial No. 110–18 

Printed for the use of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

( 


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COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS 

BOB FILNER, California, Chairman 

CORRINE BROWN, Florida 

VIC SNYDER, Arkansas 

MICHAEL H. MICHAUD, Maine 

STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN, South 

Dakota 

HARRY E. MITCHELL, Arizona 

JOHN J. HALL, New York 

PHIL HARE, Illinois 

MICHAEL F. DOYLE, Pennsylvania 

SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada 

JOHN T. SALAZAR, Colorado 

CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ, Texas 

JOE DONNELLY, Indiana 

JERRY MCNERNEY, California 

ZACHARY T. SPACE, Ohio 

TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota 

STEVE BUYER, Indiana, Ranking 

CLIFF STEARNS, Florida 

JERRY MORAN, Kansas 

RICHARD H. BAKER, Louisiana 

HENRY E. BROWN, JR., South Carolina 

JEFF MILLER, Florida 

JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas 

GINNY BROWN-WAITE, Florida 

MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio 

BRIAN P. BILBRAY, California 

DOUG LAMBORN, Colorado 

GUS M. BILIRAKIS, Florida 

VERN BUCHANAN, Florida 

Malcom A. Shorter, Staff Director 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN, South Dakota, Chairwoman 

JOE DONNELLY, Indiana 

JERRY MCNERNEY, California 

JOHN J. HALL, New York 

JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas, Ranking 

RICHARD H. BAKER, Louisiana 

JERRY MORAN, Kansas 

Pursuant to clause 2(e)(4) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House, public hearing records 

of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs are also published in electronic form. The printed 

hearing record remains the official version. Because electronic submissions are used to 

prepare both printed and electronic versions of the hearing record, the process of converting 

between various electronic formats may introduce unintentional errors or omissions. Such occurrences are inherent in the current publication process and should diminish as the process 

is further refined. 


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C O N T E N T S 

May 3, 2007 

Page 

Accelerated Education Benefits for Veterans ........................................................ 1 

OPENING STATEMENTS 

Chairwoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin .............................................................. 1 

Prepared statement of Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin .................................. 28 

Hon. John Boozman, Ranking Republican Member ............................................. 2 

Prepared statement of Congressman Boozman ............................................. 28 

WITNESSES 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: 

James Bombard, Chairman, Veterans Advisory Committee on Education ........ 18 

Prepared statement of Mr. Bombard .............................................................. 37 

Keith M. Wilson, Director, Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration ........................................................................................................................ 19

Prepared statement of Mr. Wilson .................................................................. 38 

American Legion, Ronald F. Chamrin, Assistant Director, Economic Commission ........................................................................................................................ 11

Prepared statement of Mr. Chamrin .............................................................. 35 

Michaud, Hon. Michael H., a Representative in Congress from the State 

of Maine ................................................................................................................ 3 

Prepared statement of Congressman Michaud .............................................. 29 

Professional Truck Driver Institute, Chris Burruss, President, and President, 

Truckload Carriers Association, and North American Training Management 

Institute ................................................................................................................ 6 

Prepared statement of Mr. Burruss ................................................................ 30 

Vietnam Veterans of America, Richard F. Weidman, Executive Director for 

Policy and Government Affairs ........................................................................... 9 

Prepared statement of Mr. Weidman ............................................................. 33 

SUBMISSIONS FOR THE RECORD 

National Veterans Business Development Corporation, The Veterans Corporation, Walter G. Blackwell, President and Chief Executive Officer, statement ...................................................................................................................... 40 

Paralyzed Veterans of America, statement ........................................................... 40 

MATERIAL SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD 

U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration list 

entitled, ‘‘The President’s High Growth Job Training Initiative’’ .................... 42 


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ACCELERATED EDUCATION BENEFITS 

FOR VETERANS 

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2007 

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS, SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, Washington, DC. 

The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:03 p.m., in 

Room 334, Cannon House Office Building, Hon. Stephanie Herseth 

Sandlin [Chairwoman of the Subcommittee] presiding. 

Present: Representatives Herseth Sandlin, Donnelly, McNerney, 

Hall, Boozman. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF CHAIRWOMAN HERSETH SANDLIN 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. 

The Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee hearing 

on accelerated education benefits for veterans will come to order. 

Before I begin with my opening statement, I would like to call 

attention to the fact that Mr. Walter Blackwell, President and CEO 

of The Veterans Corporation, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America have asked to submit a written statement for the record. 

If there is no objection, I ask for unanimous consent that these 

statements be entered for the record. Hearing no objection, so entered. 

Today we will be hearing testimony on accelerated education 

benefits. In 2001, Congress passed legislation to assist veterans in 

paying for short-term, high-cost education programs. Instead of 

paying the monthly education benefits, the accelerated education 

benefits provide a lump sum of 60 percent of tuition for certain programs. 

To be eligible to participate in the accelerated education benefit 

program, individuals must qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill 

(MGIB) Active Duty, be enrolled in a short-term, high-cost education program such as life or physical science, engineering, mathematics, or computer specialties, and intend to seek employment in 

a high-technology industry. 

In addition, the tuition fees must be 200 percent of MGIB benefits that an individual would receive for that term. To date, approximately 4,000 veterans have or are benefiting from this important program. 

You might recall that on May 25, 2005, under the leadership of 

Mr. Boozman, this Subcommittee conducted a hearing on the issue 

of accelerated education benefits. That hearing raised several interesting issues that we can build upon and explore further today. 


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While I am supportive of the program, I am very interested in 

receiving testimony to help the Subcommittee determine if the 

process time is adequate and meeting the needs of servicemembers, 

if expansion of eligible programs is warranted, and if expansion beyond the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Chapter 30 is warranted 

as well. 

Ranking Member Boozman, I look forward to learning more from 

the testimony we receive today, building on the work of the last 

Congress, and working with our colleagues to ensure our Nation’s 

veterans are provided the best education services that they have 

rightfully earned and deserve. 

[The statement of Ms. Herseth Sandlin appears on p. 28.] 

I now recognize the Ranking Member, Mr. Boozman, for any 

opening remarks he may have. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN BOOZMAN 

Mr. BOOZMAN. Thank you very much, Madam Chairwoman, for 

bringing us together today to discuss the accelerated payment option of the Montgomery GI Bill. 

First, I have a list of the approved high-technology programs 

taken from the VA Web site and ask unanimous consent that the 

list be entered in the record. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Hearing no objection, so entered. 

Mr. BOOZMAN. Thank you. 

[The referenced list entitled, ‘‘The President’s High Growth Job 

Training Initiative,’’ appears on p. 42.] 

The original intent of this payment option was to improve the affordability of the relatively high cost of the short-duration programs. Absent specificity from Congress, the Department coordinated with the National Science Foundation and the Bureau of 

Labor Statistics to create the approved list and I am sure the Department is prepared to discuss and describe their process. 

Despite what is a lengthy list, incongruities exist. For example, 

urban forestry is approved, but nursing is not. I believe it may be 

time to refocus the program and better define the goal of the program. 

While improving funding for high-tech courses is a valid goal, I 

think it ignores one of the major shortcomings of the GI Bill and 

that is the 30 percent of those who sign up but never use their benefit. 

College is not for everyone nor does a long-term degree program 

fit in every life situation. For example, those servicemembers who 

leave the military are often married with children and cannot afford 4 years away from the job market and need help in the form 

of affordable, short-term education or training in fields that may be 

normally viewed as non-high tech. 

I believe, therefore, the accelerated benefit program should be a 

tool to make veterans’ education benefits more flexible to help 

these veterans. We should focus primarily on improving access to 

non-degree programs. That would include things like short-term 

certification courses but not a course that is part of a degree. 

And given the level of sophistication in most sectors of the economy, it is hard to find jobs other than the most basic general labor 


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that do not either require or strongly encourage formal education 

or training. 

Truck driving, for example. My district is the home to headquarters of five of the ten largest trucking companies in America 

and I know for a fact that they are constantly seeking new longand short-haul drivers. 

With all the regulations regarding hazardous materials and driving standards, truck driving is becoming more technically oriented 

every day. And I believe the industry needs about 100,000 more 

drivers for jobs that offer starting pay in the range of $40,000. 

I note that one of our witnesses today will testify to the standards to certify truck driving schools. I have seen their criteria and 

let us just say that certainly today’s schools are not the schools 

that our fathers trained under. 

Other transportation modes such as the railroads and certainly 

aviation also have significant technical training. High technology 

should not be the only determinant. 

There are sectors of the economy crying for help these days, most 

of which require employees to master some measure of high technology. Transportation, hospitality, construction, healthcare, are 

just four of the dozen high-demand job fields that offer good wages 

and careers for our veterans. 

[The statement of Mr. Boozman appears on p. 28.] 

Madam Chairwoman, I look forward to working with you as always to make our education benefits programs more relevant to all 

of our veterans. Thank you very much. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Thank you very much, Mr. Boozman. 

I would like to welcome back those who have testified before this 

Subcommittee previously and also those who are here testifying for 

the first time today. 

Joining us on our first panel is our friend, Congressman Michael 

Michaud of Maine, a senior Member of our Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health. I thank him for his leadership 

on a number of issues under the jurisdiction of the different Subcommittees and the full Committee. 

Mr. Michaud, welcome, and we want to recognize you for 5 minutes. 

STATEMENT OF HON. MICHAEL H. MICHAUD, A 

REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MAINE 

Mr. MICHAUD. Thank you very much, Chairwoman Herseth 

Sandlin and Ranking Member Boozman and Congressman Donnelly. I appreciate the initiative your Subcommittee has shown in 

considering my bipartisan legislation, House Resolution 1824, and 

allowing me the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss 

this very important piece of legislation. 

As we all care about in the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, we owe 

a great debt to those who put their lives in harm’s way protecting 

our country. When they come home, I believe it is critical that we 

provide them with an opportunity to live the American dream that 

they have risked to protect this country. 

That means providing healthcare and benefits compensation, but 

it also means ensuring economic opportunity as well. My legislation 

would allow accelerated payments of educational assistance under 


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the Montgomery GI Bill to any eligible veterans enrolled in an approved program of education or training that leads to employment 

as an operator of a commercial motor vehicle. 

Current law only provides such accelerated payments for approved training programs that will lead to employment in the hightechnology sector. I do not believe we should limit the range of opportunities available to our veterans and my bill will take a step 

further in expanding that opportunity. 

My provisions would expand accelerated payment to the Montgomery GI Bill benefits to eligible veterans seeking employment in 

the high-demand field of commercial trucking as you heard Congressman Boozman mention earlier. 

Many CDL training courses are short term and require up-front 

payment of tuition and, thus, do not conform with the current 

Montgomery GI Bill payment system of $1,075 per month over 36 

months. 

In addition, my bill includes an important provision that would 

exclude benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill from being considered as income for purposes of determining eligibility for education 

grants or student loans under any other provisions of Federal law. 

Current eligibility rules for receiving certain student Federal financial aid programs include Montgomery GI Bill payments in the 

calculation of resources. In other words, what this provision is saying is that we should not penalize our veterans for taking advantage of this earned benefit. 

Madam Chairwoman, easing the transition of our military personnel back into civilian life is a responsibility our government 

must fully embrace. I believe my bill takes a step in the right direction. 

I would like to thank you once again and Ranking Member 

Boozman for your leadership on this issue and hopefully we will be 

able to move this legislation to the full Committee and ultimately 

on the floor so we can help our veterans in this great Nation of 

ours. 

With that, I will answer any questions. 

[The statement of Mr. Michaud appears on p. 29.] 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Thank you, Mr. Michaud. 

At this time, I would like to recognize Mr. Donnelly of Indiana 

for any opening statement he may want to offer, and any questions 

that he has for our colleague at this time. 

Mr. DONNELLY. Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. 

I would just like to thank my fellow Member for providing such 

good legislation. When we know that it is very, very difficult sometimes to make ends meet and then to look at a situation where you 

are trying to improve and have a career and then you find out that 

the tuition cost is up front, what this does is it provides the veteran with that opportunity. 

And so, Mr. Michaud, I will fully support your legislation and am 

very proud for the opportunity to vote for it when it comes on the 

floor of the House. Thank you. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Thank you, Mr. Donnelly. 

I would now recognize the Ranking Member for any questions he 

may have of Mr. Michaud. 


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Mr. BOOZMAN. I do not have any questions. I do appreciate you 

working very hard on this legislation. 

I have really enjoyed working with a number of different projects 

and you have shown great leadership. There is a lot of difference 

in this and leading the Health Subcommittee and trucking, but it 

is all about trying to figure out how we can use the tools in the 

toolbox, given more tools so that we can allow them to use and utilize the benefits that they have earned. 

And I think your bill really goes a long way in doing that from 

an educational standpoint. So, again, I just appreciate you working 

hard on it and hopefully all of us working together, we will get it 

signed into law. Thank you. 

Mr. MICHAUD. Thank you very much. I really appreciate that. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Thank you, Mr. Boozman. 

I would now like to recognize the gentleman from New York, Mr. 

Hall, for any opening statement or questions he may have. 

Mr. HALL. Thank you, Madam Chair, Ranking Member. 

And, Congressman, I appreciate your being here and thank you 

for the legislation that you have submitted which I wholeheartedly 

support. And I just have a couple questions to ask you, if you have 

been approached by anybody to consider expanding the scope of the 

legislation. 

Mr. MICHAUD. No one specific as far as other Members of Congress, but that is something I am definitely open to. I think we 

have to provide whatever opportunities that we can for our men 

and women who want to apply for the Montgomery GI Bill. So I 

would definitely be open to expanding it. 

Mr. HALL. That was my second question. So you already answered it. 

And I yield back. Thank you. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. We appreciate that, Mr. Michaud. I want 

to echo the sentiments of others on the Subcommittee for your 

leadership and your tenacity and your openness to looking at other 

sectors that may make as much sense as those that have been authorized previously, as well as the opportunities that you have 

identified that exist within the commercial trucking industry. 

We will look forward to working with you further as we look at 

accelerated education benefits payments both as it relates specifically to the way the bill is currently drafted and working with you 

as we consider any amendments either at the Subcommittee level 

or as it makes its way to the full Committee. 

Thank you very much. We appreciate your time. 

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Chairwoman. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Yes. 

Mr. BOOZMAN. Could I just ask one thing of the witness? 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Of course. 

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Michaud, do you have a cost estimate just for 

the trucking aspect? 

Mr. MICHAUD. Just for the trucking estimate, it is estimated that 

for a 10-year period, it is approximately $6.6 million over 10 years. 

That is one thing I think we will have to look at. How we expand 

it is the additional cost that that might be. So I think this is low 

cost for the benefit that it will provide. 


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Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Thank you, and we appreciate your testimony. 

Mr. MICHAUD. Once again, I want to thank you, Madam Chairwoman, and the Committee for allowing me to speak this afternoon. Thank you very much. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Thank you. 

We now invite panel two to the witness table. On our second 

panel of witnesses, we will hear from Mr. Chris Burruss, President 

of the Professional Truck Driver Institute; Mr. Rick Weidman, Executive Director for Policy and Government Affairs for Vietnam 

Veterans of America; and Mr. Ron Chamrin, Assistant Director of 

Economic Commission for the American Legion. 

Mr. Burruss, we will start with you. I would like to thank you 

all in advance for your testimony and we appreciate you being 

here. You are recognized for 5 minutes. 

STATEMENTS OF CHRIS BURRUSS, PRESIDENT, PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVER INSTITUTE, AND PRESIDENT, 

TRUCKLOAD CARRIERS ASSOCIATION, AND NORTH AMERICAN TRAINING MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE; RICHARD F. 

WEIDMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR POLICY AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA; AND 

RONALD F. CHAMRIN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC 

COMMISSION, AMERICAN LEGION 

STATEMENT OF CHRIS BURRUSS 

Mr. BURRUSS. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman, Ranking Member Boozman, and Members of the Subcommittee. My name is 

Chris Burruss, President of the Truckload Carriers Association, 

President of the North American Training Management Institute, 

as well as the Professional Truck Driver Institute, which is what 

I am here today to represent. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Could you pull the microphone just a little bit closer to you? Thank you. 

Mr. BURRUSS. I do not have a hard time. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. There you go. 

Mr. BURRUSS. People can hear me pretty well, but I apologize for 

that. 

I am pleased to be here on behalf of PTDI on an issue that it 

should be no surprise is very near and dear to our hearts in the 

industry. And having served in the Marine Corps for 5 years on active duty, I understand the time that a veteran spends trying to 

reenter the civilian workforce and it can be a time that is full of 

a lot of uncertainty and it can be an extremely stressful time for 

the veterans. 

So I applaud the Subcommittee for trying to help out the veterans enter the workforce in a steadfast manner. 

As a matter of background, the Professional Truck Driver Institute was established by the trucking industry in 1986. And since 

that time, PTDI has become the Nation’s foremost advocate of 

standards and professionalism for entry-level truck drivers. 

This national not-for-profit organization’s goal is to advance 

truck driver training proficiency, safety, and professionalism 


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among drivers. PTDI serves as an independent agent for voluntary 

certification of entry-level commercial driver training. 

It is the truckload segment of the trucking industry that is facing 

a critical shortage of qualified drivers. In a little more than a decade, the demand for truck services will increase by more than 30 

percent which means that the trucking industry will transport 3.3 

billion tons more of freight than it carries today. 

In order to accommodate this higher demand, the number of the 

Class A trucks will increase by 32 percent, putting an additional 

1 million trucks on the Nation’s highways. This equates to needing 

that same amount of drivers in order to move the freight. 

The American Trucking Association has reported that between 

the years of 2004 and 2014, the size of the white male population, 

which is a key demographic for the trucking industry, will decline 

by 3 million people. 

Further, Global Insights projection of trend growth for the potential supply of and demand for long-haul, heavy-duty truck drivers 

indicates a widening imbalance during that time period. 

Currently there is already a shortage of long-haul truck drivers 

that we estimate to be at 20,000 today and that is to haul the 

freight as it exists in today’s society. 

Having grown up in the trucking industry and having worked in 

this industry for 18 years, one of the key critical issues that we 

have is being able to attract and qualify drivers for our industry. 

The national average tuition for professional truck driver train- ing is on average about $4,000 a year or per course and I emphasize that that is just an average. And driver training is essential 

and it needs to be taught by a reputable truck driving school in 

order for the driver to obtain the knowledge and the skills necessary to successfully pass the CDL examination. 

For the prospective truck driver student who has the means to 

finance his or her education, then this is not really an issue. However, for the student or the veteran in this case who would like to 

attend a truck driver training school but does not have the means, 

financing for his or her education can be daunting and often, quite 

frankly, a disappointing task. 

These students in many cases must apply for high-interest personal loans, some of which are turned away due to poor credit history. Others have to weed themselves through the Federal bureaucracy process to find alternative funding sources, and usually these 

come in the way of partial or full Federal grant funds. 

Under the current MGI Bill or the GI Bill Program, veterans 

may receive a maximum monthly education benefit. Most truck 

driving schools, through their financial aid office, then submit 

those to the VA or submit their DD–214 to the VA. And from that 

point, it can take upward of 45 days before the veteran receives its 

first GI Bill check. 

Schools that work with veterans report that there is a tremendous lag time between payment and services rendered. By the time 

the veteran receives his or her first check, the student may have 

completed one-half of his or her $4,000 worth of training, depending on the school that they select. 

Public, private, or carrier-based truck driving schools do not typically operate on a semester-based system. More or less, they operVerDate Aug 31 2005 09:48 Feb 12, 2008 Jkt 035637 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 E:\HR\OC\35637.XXX 35637

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ate on a rolling schedule with new enrollments and classes beginning every few weeks. 

For a school that has been qualified by the VA to receive MGI 

Bill educational benefits, the current VA funding mechanism 

through which the school receives payment is far from efficient. 

Upon the veteran student’s completion of the 2- to 3-month truck 

driver training program, the school may have collected approximately 2 to 3 thousand dollars of the MGI Bill benefit moneys of 

the 4 thousand in tuition owed. Because the truck driver training 

school has no more control over the distribution of the funds themselves, when or whether the school will receive full tuition payment 

can create a concern for all parties involved. 

There are a few industries where an individual with a high 

school diploma can enter a profession with only 4 to 6 weeks of 

training, to enter a profession which is unlikely to experience any 

downsizing, and offers them an entry-level possible salary of between 42 and $45,000 a year. However, once trained, these positions can enable a veteran to make salaries upward of 60 to 

$100,000 or more. 

According to most truck driving schools, the reasons they like to 

recruit veterans is simple. Former military personnel make some 

of the best students and have higher training graduation rates 

than their civilian counterparts. 

From the trucking company’s perspective, veterans have some of 

the key characteristics that they are looking for, leadership, respect 

for procedures, integrity, and teamwork. And these are all characteristics that arguably are invaluable to all employers, but particularly in the trucking industry. 

Additionally, most veterans, particularly those who have been recently separated from the Armed Service, are able to pass the drug 

and alcohol testing requirements, the physical examination requirements, and may have a good civilian driving record. 

Veterans whose military occupational specialty or MOS involved 

heavy truck driving as a military profession, then truck driving in 

the commercial environment may be a natural career path for them 

in civilian life. Many PTDI schools have addressed this by developing special evaluations for veterans reentering the workforce 

with their military CDL. 

In closing, Madam Chairwoman, I would like to ask that the 

Subcommittee join PTDI and TCA in support of Congressman 

Michaud’s bill, House Resolution 1824. Our veterans looking for a 

second career deserve, I think, our support. 

As an industry projected to add substantial numbers of new jobs 

to the economy, the transportation industry and PTDI is interested 

in working with you to address the skill shortage and workforce 

challenges. 

And, last, as an industry that has been recognized in the President’s high-growth job training initiative at the Department of 

Labor, we look forward to working with the Subcommittee to further this initiative. 

And with that, Madam Chairwoman, this concludes my remarks, 

and thank you. 

[The statement of Mr. Burruss appears on p. 30.] 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Thank you very much, Mr. Burruss. 


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Mr. Weidman, we would now like to take your testimony. You 

are recognized for 5 minutes. 

STATEMENT OF RICHARD F. WEIDMAN 

Mr. WEIDMAN. Madam Chairwoman, thank you for holding this 

hearing. 

Mr. Boozman, Mr. Donnelly, and Mr. Hall, also thank you for 

being here. We know there are multiple demands on all of your 

time to be many different places. 

In 1994, I worked for then Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo, 

and we put together a GI Bill poster that is displayed in these 

Committee rooms and has been for some time. And people said 

what does that have to do with veterans’ employment. 

We went back and looked at the course of the GI Bill in its first 

50 years and discovered that 53 percent of the GI Bill had been 

used for direct vocational education, either farm education or an 

apprenticeship or on-the-job training. That did not count those who 

got a degree and then went on to become doctors, lawyers, attorneys, businessmen, all the myriad of professionals for which a 

Bachelor’s Degree or an Associate’s Degree was a prerequisite. 

It is, in fact, the crux event of the readjustment process is the 

ability to obtain and sustain meaningful employment or one’s own 

self-employment. That is the flash point of the readjustment process for the young men and women coming home, whether they are 

demobilized Guard and Reservists or our active-duty folks returning home. 

I thank you very much for having this hearing and particularly 

for Mr. Michaud’s bill, but it is not limited to that. The nature of 

adult learning within our society, and these are adults when they 

come home even if they are still only 21, 22 years old, you come 

home with a maturity far beyond your years, and these are folks 

who are not going to sit in the classroom by and large and do the 

traditional 4-year route. Those who wish to get a Bachelor’s Degree 

will do so. 

This Committee under Mr. Boozman’s leadership and with your 

active assistants moved several years ago to change the law in 

order to accommodate entrepreneurial training. Unfortunately, the 

vessel within which that was delivered was not changed. The State 

Approving Agencies are still bound by the laws and regulations of 

looking at classroom hours in a more traditional classroom and, 

therefore, many of the Small Business Development Centers have 

had a very difficult time. 

It is not limited to the Small Business Development Centers 

(SBDCs) and entrepreneurial training, but I would suggest that it 

is something that will affect across the board. 

The accelerated payment is necessary for the payment up front 

no matter what format that training or education is delivered in. 

And oftentimes it is not going to be X number of hours sitting in 

a classroom en masse. It is just simply not going to happen that 

way. 

And, therefore, if the attempt is on the part of the Congress to 

aid and abet and assist those young men and women coming home 

in order to get the training that is going to directly impact on either their career or their ability to succeed, not just get in the busiVerDate Aug 31 2005 09:48 Feb 12, 2008 Jkt 035637 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 E:\HR\OC\35637.XXX 35637

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ness, but to succeed in opening their own micro business or small 

business, then we are going to have to rethink the set of laws and 

regulations which we give to the State Approving Agencies in order 

to do their job of maintaining the quality and making sure that our 

people are not ripped off. 

That is the main thrust of my statement here today, and I certainly look forward to working with both sides of the aisle, both 

you, Madam Chairwoman, and Mr. Boozman and others to come up 

with a new paradigm that will not only work for entrepreneurial 

training and small business training, but will also work for many 

other high-tech occupations and it fits with the direction in which 

adult learning currently is going in this country to be able to assist 

these folks. 

I would just mention two last things, is that VVA supports extending the current rates of payments for veterans who are enrolled in apprenticeship. Apprenticeship in many States unfortunately has fallen into great disuse and it needs to be restored. 

And it is people make much about how folks are no longer in 

blue collar professions, but moving into white collar. Try and find 

a plumber sometime. You want your kid to always be able to earn 

a living. Get him or her into doing plumbing as an example or electrician, a skilled electrician, in many parts of the country. 

Last but by no means least, the SAAs are continuing to have to 

fight a battle to have the resources to do the job, what we need to 

have done in each of the 50 States plus the other three jurisdictions. I would encourage you strongly to take the steps necessary 

to make sure that we do not have to go through this battle every 

year and to ensure that the resources are provided in order to provide a framework. 

VVA strongly believes that the reason why the Montgomery GI 

Bill has worked so well now for over 60 years is that the veteran 

decides. It is based essentially on a free enterprise system and the 

money follows the veteran. But within the framework, you have got 

to make sure that people are protected against fly-by-night folks 

and we need the SAAs to have the adequate resources to do their 

job so that the free enterprise, if you will, can work within the context of the approved entities and programs. 

I thank you very much. I see I am over time, and thank you for 

indulging me, ma’am. And, again, thank you for having this important hearing. 

I have said it often, but I will repeat it. Most of the important 

work of this Committee does not happen when the big lights are 

on and the place is packed. It happens in hearings like this and 

the hard work where, frankly, many people are not listening and 

people will never know anybody who is here today’s name will benefit and have a much better life after their service to country in 

uniform because of the work you do here today. And I thank each 

and every one of you and each and every one of your staff persons. 

Thank you, ma’am. 

[The statement of Mr. Weidman appears on p. 33.] 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Thank you, Mr. Weidman, for your insightful testimony and recognition of the hard work of all those on 

the Subcommittee and our dedicated staff. I appreciate that very 

much. 


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Mr. Chamrin, let us hear from you for 5 minutes, please. 

STATEMENT OF RONALD F. CHAMRIN 

Mr. CHAMRIN. Madam Chair Herseth Sandlin, Ranking Member 

Boozman, and Members of the Subcommittee, American Legion appreciates the opportunity to share its views on accelerated education payments, the impact regarding veterans education. 

American Legion supports granting veterans the options to request an accelerated payment of all monthly education benefits 

upon meeting the criteria for eligibility for the Montgomery GI Bill 

financial payments. 

The selection of courses the veterans undergo remain exclusively 

the decision of the individual veteran and all earned veterans education benefits should be made available to the veterans in support 

of their endeavors. 

Accelerated education payments allow veterans to achieve education goals in the manner that they decide. Binding the timeframe 

on the education payout may restrict education options for some 

veterans. 

American Legion recommends that all GI Bill approved courses 

including the OJT and apprenticeship courses become eligible for 

accelerated education payments. 

American Legion recommends the expansion of Public Law 107 

to include but not limited to survivors’ and dependents’ education 

assistance, the post Vietnam era veterans’ education assistance 

program, and the Reserve education assistance program. 

American Legion is deeply concerned with the timely manner 

that veterans, especially returning wartime veterans, receive their 

education benefits. Annually for the past 6 years, approximately 

300,000 servicemembers, 90,000 of them belonging to the National 

Guard and Reserve, enter the civilian sector and have the ability 

to use their education benefits. 

Any delay in receipt of education payments can adversely affect 

a veteran’s life. There are time restrictions on most veteran education benefits. Specifically the National Guard and Reserve must 

remain in the Selective Reserve to use their earned benefits. Every 

effort should be made to ensure that the GI Bill and related veterans education benefits are delivered without delay. 

American Legion applauds the initiative of veterans entering 

high-tech fields; however, the type of program available for accelerated payments should not be limited. Ironically courses in education are excluded from this program. Truck driving, program 

evaluation, policy, law, communication, early childhood education, 

human resources, recreation, and liberal arts are other programs 

that are also excluded. 

American Legion is concerned with the ranges of program costs 

throughout the country. Consideration should be made to lower the 

200 percent threshold for receiving accelerated payments. Not 

every veteran is destined for college; therefore, the GI Bill needs 

to be more accessible for those veterans with vocational aspirations 

other than college. 

The overall cost of these short-term vocational training and licensing programs far exceed the monthly stipend provided under 

the traditional college student for 36 months approach and the curVerDate Aug 31 2005 09:48 Feb 12, 2008 Jkt 035637 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 E:\HR\OC\35637.XXX 35637

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rent GI Bill. Accelerated education payments would greatly assist 

qualified veterans enrolled in an approved program of education 

that leads to employment such as truck driving. This expansion 

would give veterans more educational options and a better diversity of vocations. 

Starting in 2001, the total use of education benefits by veterans 

continues to increase. In fiscal year 2006, approximately 470,000 

individuals received veteran-related education benefits. This 

equates to approximately 3 million courses taken by veterans. 

With the increasing number of eligible veterans and increasing 

quantity of discharged veterans, the need for assistance and implementation of all elements of veterans benefits continue to rise. 

American Legion asserts that due to the frequent call-ups of National Guard and Reserve forces, veterans are forced to divert from 

their traditional semester schedule in an attempt to finish their 

programs before the next call-up. 

National Guard and Reserve units are continuously training in 

preparation for war. Leadership development, combat life saver, 

communications, language, airborne and air assault are examples 

of courses that are conducted year round. One in particular, leadership development courses, are required for any promotion. 

Student servicemembers must choose to either enter these 

courses to advance their military career and better prepare them 

and their units for war or remain at the universities, thereby slowing their military advancement progression. Accelerated education 

payments will allow for these individuals to enter short-term, highcost programs that will permit them to complete the course within 

the window between military requirements. 

It is important to note that accelerated education payments are 

only available to Chapter 30 benefits. The Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) beneficiaries and other programs are 

barred from receiving accelerated payments. An example is an Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veteran using REAP. If she chose to 

enter a high-cost, short-term program such as a teaching certification program, she would only be able to use her education benefits at the monthly rate. Furthermore, her benefit would only be 

available to her as long as she remains an active member of the 

Selective Reserve. 

I would like to share the story of Sergeant Bruce Dunlap who is 

currently recovering from devastating injuries at the Walter Reed 

Army Medical Center from service in Iraq. He wishes to enter the 

vocational rehabilitation program and work toward becoming a 

teacher. Bruce eagerly wants to become self-sufficient and restart 

his civilian life. 

This amazing and strong person has further expressed his desire 

to begin teaching and after a few years of employment enter a Master’s program with a more specific focus on advanced education. 

Bruce plans on using his GI Bill to pay for his Master’s program 

while simultaneously working as a teacher. He would take highcost, short-term night courses. However, these programs are not 

currently eligible for accelerated payments. 

Sergeant Dunlap’s educational plan is not specifically unique. Civilians have a similar style of education plans to also encompass 

other fields. What is unique and can never be overlooked is that 


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this story is out of a veteran. Specifically he is a severely injured 

veteran that volunteered to enlist in the military and serve his 

country. 

In conclusion, American Legion believes that honorable military 

service combined with improved education and vocational training 

opportunities enhances an individual, increases diversity, and 

betters society as a whole. 

The education is continuous and ever-evolving. The diminishment of support for educational opportunities for veterans will decrease the ability to recruit new servicemembers and unfairly subject veterans to barriers of benefits that they have earned. 

It is our obligation to ensure that the earned education benefits 

of America’s veterans are actually of value to those seeking a nontraditional route to their education. 

The American Legion appreciates the opportunity to present this 

statement of record. I welcome any questions from you, Madam 

Chairwoman, and the Committee. 

[The statement of Mr. Chamrin appears on p. 35.] 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Thank you very much, all of you, for your 

testimony. Let me start out with the questions. Mr. Weidman and 

Mr. Chamrin bring up a number of important issues as they relate 

to other sectors, other fields, other programs for which accelerated 

benefit payments may be appropriate, but I want to focus initially 

on the commercial driver’s license program. 

Mr. Burruss, do you know if there are any States that automatically convert a military license into a commercial driver’s license? 

Mr. BURRUSS. I do not believe that there are. To my knowledge, 

I do not know of any that do. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Has there been any comparison by your 

institute about the requirements as they relate to the standards in 

the military for conducting that particular responsibility versus 

what the CDL requirements are in the programs that are offered 

in the civilian workforce? 

Mr. BURRUSS. Yeah. It has been studied. It has been looked at. 

Candidly, somebody coming out of the military can obtain a CDL 

if they can pass a CDL exam, both the written and driving portion. 

Currently FMCSA, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, is looking at and will be issuing entry-level drivers’ training 

standards in the near future which will cause some minimum 

training standards that all people will have to adhere to. 

So in the future, that process is going to be even more difficult 

because now somebody that wants to get in is going to have to have 

some sort of entry-level training. Now, that is our assumption. But 

there are some glaring differences between military experience and 

over-the-road experience in a commercial vehicle. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Talk with us a little bit more about the 

types of programs that are offered across the country. You were 

talking about the average cost of a course. You pointed out the fact 

that often these programs are not offered on a semester-based system. 

Mr. BURRUSS. Right. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Are there CDL training courses offered 

at community colleges, vocational technical institutes that are on 

a typical semester basis? 


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Mr. BURRUSS. Not on a semester basis, but there are courses that 

are run through community colleges. Now, that is not to say that 

there are not any longer training programs that do it that way. But 

the majority are on a shorter term that utilize vocational education 

facilities to do it. And they range everywhere from those types of 

schools to the private industry schools and the prices range. Usually if it is a public school, they are going to be less because they 

run on a not-for-profit basis. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. That leads to my next question. Can you 

explain to the Subcommittee why a student might want to spend 

more money on a for-profit program? Are there differences between 

these programs versus the lower-cost tuition that may be available 

for a program from a public institution? 

Mr. BURRUSS. Well, my answer to that would be there could be 

differences. If they adhere to some sort of a standard, for example, 

the PTDI model, which specifies minimum training standards. 

Now, that does not prevent them from offering more expansive 

training should they choose to do so. But it would give them a set 

of minimum requirements. And if drivers are educated to that 

standard, then there should not be any differences between the 

quality of the driver that is coming out of the schools. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Thank you. We may explore some of that 

further, but we may have votes in about 5 minutes. I want to make 

sure we have plenty of time for my colleagues on the Subcommittee 

to pose questions to this panel. 

I would like to recognize the Ranking Member for any questions 

he may have at this time. 

Mr. BOOZMAN. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. 

I appreciate all of your testimony. I think it is very helpful. 

Mr. Weidman, you talked about the fact that we needed a new 

paradigm. And when we look at how much life has changed in 

every aspect, whatever business you are in, whether it is going to 

the gas station now and sticking your credit card in or using it at 

Sonic in Arkansas, where I like to hang out you stick your credit 

card in there. It is just so different. 

We in government find it is very difficult for us to keep up with 

the new patterns and education has changed dramatically. 

Mr. Chamrin, you mentioned the plight of the soldier that has 

lots of downtime, he is rehabbing, he would like to do some online 

courses. Those courses are just common now. 

So we really do have to get on the stick and get more tools in 

the toolbox for these individuals as they seek employment. 

So I really do not have any specific questions. Again, I just appreciate the testimony. I think it was very, very helpful. 

The other comment that you made, and I think it is a good thing 

and it creates problems also, is that these individuals that are coming back after the experiences that they have had overseas and 

even the experiences that they had, the men and women stationed 

here, they really are very mature compared to how they left. And 

it is difficult to go back doing the same thing that they were doing. 

And they are positions of leadership, tremendous responsibility 

more so than the average person will ever experience in some cases 

and then all of a sudden to be thrust back. So, again, that is just 


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another reason that hopefully working together we will get this 

sorted out. 

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Thank you, Mr. Boozman. 

Mr. Hall, do you have questions for the witnesses? 

Mr. HALL. Just quickly I do. Thank you, Madam Chair. 

And thank you all for your testimony. 

I wanted to ask Mr. Burruss, do you know of any projections on 

how many certified truck drivers might emerge from the veterans’ community if the transportation industry were to be included in 

the scope of accelerated education benefits? 

Mr. BURRUSS. I do not have that number, no. 

Mr. HALL. Do you know of any other industries that have encountered similar roadblocks such as high tuition costs that might 

have prevented veterans from seeking employment in that field? 

And I guess it could go to Mr. Weidman as well. 

Mr. WEIDMAN. I am sorry. 

Mr. HALL. I am curious of what other industries, what other educational paths to those industries have encountered similar roadblocks such as high tuition costs or the spread out duration of payment of tuition that might have prevented veterans from seeking 

employment in that field. 

Mr. WEIDMAN. There are many of the high-tech fields, number 

one. Number two is entrepreneurial training is a good example, Mr. 

Hall. The SBDC in Albany basically has given up getting some of 

their courses approved and so they do not even focus on the GI Bill 

anymore. 

What they do is people want to take their course, they come and 

pay full freight, whether they are service-disabled vets or a veteran-owned business or not. And we need to find a different way 

to approach this, if I may suggest, and so it is so much of training 

today you buy a package and you do a lot of it on your computer 

and then you have consultation either online or via telephone and 

some in-person meetings. 

So the traditional thing where you gather all the students in a 

cluster for X number of hours over a given number of weeks just 

simply does not hold true for adults. And that is what I mean when 

I say that we need a new paradigm that also protects the individual from being ripped off by fly-by-nights. 

Mr. HALL. Thank you, Mr. Weidman. 

And to Mr. Chamrin, I just wanted to ask a three-part question. 

Does the Legion support the inclusion of commercial driving license 

programs in the accelerated payment provision? Does the Legion 

support expanding that accelerated payment provision to include 

all short-term, non-degree programs and/or should we give the veteran complete freedom to choose the program of interest? 

Mr. CHAMRIN. Congressman Hall, the American Legion does support that GI Bill benefits be used for commercial driver’s license 

and truck driving training. And the American Legion does believe 

that all short-term, high-cost elements be eligible for GI Bill education benefits. 

What was your last question again? 

Mr. HALL. Should we give the veteran complete freedom to 

choose the program of interest? 


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Mr. CHAMRIN. The American Legion believes that all veterans, 

they have earned their education benefits and whatever course of 

study that they choose to use, we should allow them to do that. 

Mr. HALL. Thank you. I agree with that also. 

And, Madam Chair—— Mr. WEIDMAN. Mr. Hall, may I—— Mr. HALL. Jump in on that if you prefer. 

Mr. WEIDMAN. As long as the program is on an approved menu 

with a paradigm approved by the Congress within the context of 

the law because there are unscrupulous folks out there. 

And Mr. Bombard who is going to be testifying on the next panel 

can tell you unbelievable stories about stuff that has gone on in the 

five burroughs to the south of you about unscrupulous folks who 

have set up programs that look great on the surface but turn out 

to really be shams. 

Within the context of having an approved program, we do believe 

that it ought to be freedom of choice. That is what has made the 

strength of the GI Bill and made it the most successful social program ever is that freedom of choice. 

I would add something else, is a number of years ago, veterans 

community and a variety of folks, we got to working on trying to 

convert military skills into civilian skills. And the only one that 

really made it was emergency medical technician so that people 

when they complete training at Great Lakes if they are in the 

Navy or if they complete training at Fort Sam Houston if they are 

an Army medic automatically are offered an EMT certification 

course which is accepted in all jurisdictions. 

There is no reason why CDL could not do the same. And if you 

wanted to take education beyond that in order to be more competitive to the best of the carriers out there, and it does make a difference which school you go to as to which carrier is going to pick 

you up, that would be something you can do beyond that. 

But we have not failed and the Veterans Corporation has totally 

failed in the efforts given to the Congress in 1999 to look at this 

whole question of conversion of military skills into civilian certification. 

Mr. HALL. Thank you very much, and I yield back. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Thank you, Mr. Hall. 

I would agree. I think there is a balance here that we can 

achieve so long as we are giving our State Approving Agencies adequate resources to do both. The veteran should have the freedom 

and the choice. But, like many other provisions that go along with 

an earned benefit, a government benefit, we need some consumer 

protection provisions. 

I do think that goes to the issue of the State Approving Agencies 

that I want to get to in a minute. I first want to explore one other 

thing with Mr. Burruss. 

Mr. Hall asked if you have any projections on how many certified 

truck drivers would emerge if we were able to accomplish the accelerated education benefits for that training. I know you do not have 

those projections, but you had mentioned earlier on when I asked 

the question about the military license and automatic conversion 

for the commercial driver’s license. Have you tracked that at all, 

about how many come out of the military that actually go in and 


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take the written and driving part of the exam? Have you tracked 

those numbers? 

Mr. BURRUSS. No, we do not. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Okay. Mr. Weidman, we have somewhere 

in the neighborhood of 5 to 7 minutes left before a vote which 

means we have to leave momentarily. We will be coming back for 

the third panel and we will submit additional questions if we have 

them for this panel. You do not have to stay if you do not want 

to. 

On the Small Business Development Centers, you were talking 

to Mr. Hall, and Mr. Weidman, about how up in Albany they have 

given up on getting the State Approving Agencies to approve these 

programs. Where else in the country have Small Business Development Centers been more successful in getting State Approving 

Agencies to approve their programs? Anywhere? If so, have these 

been best practices and have they shared the know-how in different 

parts of the country with going through that process? 

Mr. WEIDMAN. Any place where they offer a more traditional 

classroom setting. In other words, you have X number of hours in 

the classroom, in a group setting, if you will. 

The problem here has to do with any time you change the room 

number, any time you change the instructor, you have to go 

through the process all over again and some of the SBDCs just say 

we are not going to play that game because it is not a major part 

of their income stream nor their clientele. It is not the majority by 

any stretch of the imagination. 

So, you know, they want to do things for vets, but they are not 

going to stand on their head every time they have to change a room 

number or change an instructor who is an approved instructor, particularly if it is for something like the next thing or a fast-track 

course where there is already a certified instructor. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Boozman, do you have followup questions for this panel, so we will ask them to stay, since we—— Mr. BOOZMAN. No. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. We may, in followup conversations with 

staff as well, have additional questions that we did not get to. 

Based on your testimony and answering some other questions, 

some of them may have been adequately addressed, but there may 

be a few others. We will submit those to you in writing and perhaps again work closely with you to get those responses as we investigate this area further. 

We are going to go down to vote now and then we will come back 

for the third panel. We hope that you will be able to stay. But if 

not, we understand that, too, and we will see you soon, I am sure. 

Thank you. 

Mr. BURRUSS. Thank you. 

Mr. WEIDMAN. Thank you, ma’am. 

[Recess] 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. All right. We will get back underway. I 

know people have places to be later this afternoon. 

I do want to thank our second panel for being here and testifying. 

I will now introduce our third panel and the witnesses are Mr. 

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mittee on Education, and Mr. Keith Wilson, Director of Education 

Service for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Thank you 

both for being here once again. 

We will start with you, Mr. Bombard. We appreciate your testimony. You are recognized for 5 minutes. 

STATEMENTS OF JAMES BOMBARD, CHAIRMAN, VETERANS 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT 

OF VETERANS AFFAIRS; AND KEITH M. WILSON, DIRECTOR, 

EDUCATION SERVICE, VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

STATEMENT OF JAMES BOMBARD 

Mr. BOMBARD. Chairman Herseth Sandlin, Ranking Member 

Boozman, and Members of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, I am pleased to appear before you today on behalf of the 

Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Education 

to provide the Committee’s view on how the GI Bill can be modified 

to expand the accelerated benefit program beyond the high-technology industry. 

I have had the pleasure of working with the Members of the staff 

and the Committee for many years as the Committee has worked 

to improve the GI Bill. 

In general, much has been done in recent years to provide 

servicemembers, veterans, and other eligible persons with greater 

opportunities to use the education and training benefits to which 

they are entitled, yet the nature of today’s global economy demands 

that we continue to strive to help our workforce, especially our veterans, to gain new knowledge and learn new skills in order to 

maximize the contributions to the Nation. 

It is the VACOE’s view, the Advisory Committee’s view, that 

even with the recent increases of the money benefit, some veterans 

find it cost prohibitive to enroll in an institutional program that 

will provide the knowledge and skills necessary for them to reach 

their occupational or professional objective. 

Removing the current restriction that requires enrollment in a 

program that leads to employment in high-technology industries 

would allow greater opportunities for more veterans to use the GI 

Bill. 

Additionally, we recommend revising the law to limit the length 

of the program that qualifies for accelerated payment to 2 years or 

less. 

The discussion that led up to the enactment of the original legislation centered on short-term, high-technology courses. The language that was enacted does not impose any limitation on length. 

Therefore, all high-tech programs including many 4-year degree 

programs qualify. 

We also recommend using the basic rate because veterans who 

take advantage of the $600 buy-in or the 34–30 conversions or our 

recipients of kickers and bonuses or any combination thereof can 

be penalized by having their additional monthly payment disqualify them for accelerated payment under the 200 percent calculation. 


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Processing. Processing time for accelerated payment allowances 

is on average approximately 8 weeks for original and 2 weeks for 

supplemental claims. With regard to adequacy of this timeframe, it 

may pose a problem in short-term, high-cost courses. 

Claims processing is a complicated, time-consuming endeavor 

which could be more efficient and more effective with the adoption 

of a Total Force GI Bill. The recommendation that the Advisory 

Committee made addressed some of the claims processing issues. 

It is the VACOE’s view that the accelerated payment provision 

should be restricted to non-degree, 2 years or less programs. A good 

example where the accelerated payment provision needs to be expanded is the commercial driver training program. 

Nationally truck driver programs are relatively expensive because of the complexity of today’s equipment and the demands of 

the new licensing requirements for specialized loads. An opportunity to use the accelerated payment provision of the law would 

allow more veterans to pursue their chosen occupation. 

A word of caution. By expanding eligibility for accelerated payment, the opportunity for abuse increases. Therefore, the DVA and 

particularly the State Approving Agencies will have to be evermore 

vigilant. 

In summary, the Veterans Advisory Committee supports expanding the accelerated payment provisions of Section 3014A, Title 38 

of the U.S. Code to include short-term, 2 year or less, high-cost, 

non-degree programs. 

As aforementioned, the Committee also understands there will be 

a need for increased vigilance on the part of the Department of 

Veterans Affairs and the State Approving Agencies to limit waste, 

fraud, and abuse. 

In closing, Madam Chairman, I would like to thank you for the 

opportunity to present the views of the Advisory Committee on 

Veterans Education regarding accelerated payment provisions of 

Title 38. 

Thank you for your efforts to make improvements to the educational and training programs that have been made available to 

those who defend the freedoms that we all so thoroughly enjoy. I 

would be happy to respond to questions. 

[The statement of Mr. Bombard appears on p. 37.] 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Thank you very much. 

Mr. Wilson, you are recognized for 5 minutes. 

STATEMENT OF KEITH M. WILSON 

Mr. WILSON. Thank you, and good afternoon, Chairwoman 

Herseth Sandlin, Ranking Member Boozman, and Members of the 

Subcommittee. 

I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss VA’s accelerated payment programs. My testimony will provide an overview of the accelerated payment benefit and the 

courses of study that qualify for accelerated payment. 

Under Section 3014A, Title 38, a Montgomery GI Bill participant 

pursuing high-cost courses leading to employment in a high-technology occupation and a high-technology industry has the option of 

receiving an accelerated benefit payment. This optional lump sum 


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accelerated benefit payment covers up to 60 percent of tuitions and 

fees. 

Currently accelerated payment is only available under the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty. VA makes accelerated payments for 

one term, quarter, or semester at a time. However, if the program 

is not offered on a term, quarter, or semester basis, an accelerated 

payment is made for the entire program. 

To qualify, the individual must be enrolled in a high-technology 

program and must certify that he or she intends to seek employment in a high-technology industry as defined by VA. 

In consultation with the Department of Education, VA has defined the following industries as high technology: Biotechnology, 

life sciences technology, electronics, computer and telecommunications, electronics, computer integrated manufacturing, material 

design, aerospace, weapons, and nuclear technology. 

In addition, the program of study undertaken must have a sufficiently high cost. The tuition and fees for the program of education 

when divided by the number of months in the enrollment period 

must exceed 200 percent of the monthly rate of basic educational 

assistance allowance otherwise payable. 

If these criteria are met, the individual will receive an accelerated payment in lieu of the monthly MGIB–Active Duty benefit 

that he or she would otherwise receive for the covered period. 

Accelerated payments are granted for a variety of courses of 

study and for both degree and non-degree programs. The following 

courses of study may qualify for accelerated payments: Life 

sciences or physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, and computer specialties, or management. 

Short, non-degree courses in these areas may also qualify for accelerated benefits if they are approved for VA benefits by the State 

Approving Agencies. 

Since the accelerated payment program’s inception in fiscal year 

2003, we have received 4,808 accelerated payment claims through 

March 31st of this year. We have granted 4,045 of those claims and 

paid almost $26 million in accelerated payments. The average payment amounts to about $6,400. 

We believe the utilization of the accelerated payment program indicates that this provision of MGIB–Active Duty has filled a niche 

in assisting eligible individuals with their adjustment to civilian 

life and prepare for the critical roles in the 21st century economy. 

Madam Chairwoman, this concludes my statement. I would be 

pleased to answer any questions you or any Members of the Subcommittee may have. 

[The statement of Mr. Wilson appears on p. 38.] 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Thank you, Mr. Wilson. 

Your predecessor, Mr. McCoy, testified a couple of years ago on 

the version of the bill that Mr. Michaud had introduced in the previous Congress. I know that at that time, in his testimony he opposed Section 1 of the bill, but in terms of Section 2 specifically, 

I believe he supported Section 2 which deals with excluding VA 

educational benefits from consideration as available assets for determining eligibility under Title IV resources. 

Given that the ‘‘Higher Education Act’’ is being reauthorized, can 

you update us on any discussions you had with the Department of 


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Education to include this language in the Administration’s reauthorization proposal? 

Mr. WILSON. We have not had specific discussions with the Department of Education on this provision. Our position continues to 

be the same as it was in 2005. However, we do support that. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. What about Section 1? 

Mr. WILSON. Section 1, our views continue to be the same as they 

were in 2005. Accelerated payment is an outstanding provision and 

there is no doubt that it fills a niche for individuals. 

The concern that we have is creating a situation where some veterans are disadvantaged and others are not because of the type of 

program that they want to pursue. We would like to see accelerated pay opened up to all individuals so that it can be used equally 

and find a method of defining that so that all members that use 

our benefits can take advantage of it. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Are you supportive of a much more expansive kind of benefit which follows the veteran rather than program by program adding to the list of those that are eligible for accelerated payment? 

Mr. WILSON. That is correct. And if I can give one example as 

to why we prefer to pursue that method. The reason accelerated 

pay began in the first place was for veterans to take advantage of 

at the time the booming technology industry. Well, since the dot 

com bust, we really do not have the demand in that area that we 

have had in the past. 

So what we would like to do is pursue an approach that would 

allow us more dynamics, more flexibility so that we do not get into 

a situation where we are trying to second guess where the next 

push might be. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. I appreciate that position, especially as 

it relates to the flexibility of administering accelerated payment for 

the current list of degrees and programs that are eligible. 

If that is the position and that flexibility would probably require 

the resources for the State Approving Agencies, are there any cost 

estimates that you have done for us to be able to achieve that in 

the short term? 

Mr. WILSON. We have not gone that far on any of that, no. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. I think that is probably an objective that 

would find a lot of consensus. It recognizes the importance of those 

benefits for the veteran depending on which program he or she 

would choose to pursue and that type of flexibility. I do not want 

to speak for Mr. Michaud, but given some of the constraints that 

we face in the short term as it relates to budgetary matters, how 

can we at least be responsive to an area where there is a high need 

that seems to match well with some of the skills and interests of 

those coming back and clearly the transportation sector being one 

where there will most likely continue to be a demand? 

Are you more worried about the precedent that this sets, that we 

do it one by one because realistically the feasibility of doing what 

you have proposed in the short term may pose more challenges to 

us than perhaps the $6.6 million over 10 years of what Mr. 

Michaud is proposing? 

Mr. WILSON. The precedent that it would set would be an issue, 

but I would put it in the perspective of ease of use. Our programs 


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are complex enough as they are right now. I would like to be able 

to move forward in a manner so that the users of the program 

clearly understand when they can use something and when they 

cannot. And that is difficult for them to fully grasp a lot of times 

right now. Obviously we would be more than happy to work with 

the Subcommittee on the details of this. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. I think that is important. The Ranking 

Member and I were visiting a bit as we were heading over to vote. 

I think that you would find a lot of interest from us and the staff 

with whom we work, to sit down and to look at what you are proposing in terms of this different approach and what that means for 

the other entities involved, particularly the State Approving Agencies in light of the testimony we heard from the second panel. 

We will come back for another round of questions, but I would 

now like to recognize the Ranking Member for questions he may 

have for the panel. 

Mr. BOOZMAN. Thank you. 

Mr. Bombard, you mentioned, kind of the fact that this legislation was obviously for non-degree, 2 year or less type training. 

Have we slipped into the people using it for 4-year programs? What 

kind of scenarios are you seeing? 

Mr. BOMBARD. Well, the original intent was for high tech as Mr. 

Wilson has indicated. However, when they wrote the legislation, 

the wording was very general and when you interpreted it, it 

opened it up to the traditional 4-year programs. And that is how 

it took place. 

When we made our recommendation and we studied this, it was 

in the context of what was happening and what the Committee believed was the right way to go considering both the financial situation as well as the situation where you could open up waste, fraud, 

and abuse. It could accelerate waste, fraud, abuse. No pun intended. 

And that, overall, the Committee in a perfect world would like 

to see it opened up to everything, but we are not in a perfect world. 

So we thought that we had to make some decisions or put some 

limits on it and that is why we came up with the recommendation 

of the short-term, high-cost, non-degree programs. 

Mr. BOOZMAN. So who actually decided the courses? I mean, who 

decided whatever is included now and when was that done, Mr. 

Wilson? 

Mr. WILSON. There was a two-step process in the manner we decided this. The first thing that we needed to do was define what 

high-technology industry meant. We found out there was no government-wide definition of that. So we worked with the Department of Education and the National Science Foundation, both of 

which had lists about ten categories long that they used for a working understanding of what high-technology industry was. We combined those lists and used those as our high-technology industries. 

The second step was the high-technology courses that are required. It is kind of a two-step process when you seek approval for 

these. And for the second, we relied on the SAAs for the background information on that and they used the classification of instructional programs which is the Department of Education publication, kind of an industry standard that classifies programs. And 


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they sat down and decided the list of programs within the hightechnology industry that would qualify. 

Mr. BOOZMAN. And when was that done? 

Mr. WILSON. That was 2002, 2003. 

Mr. BOOZMAN. So we really have not changed anything since 

then as far as what qualifies? 

Mr. WILSON. That is correct. 

Mr. BOOZMAN. Okay. Good. And I have several questions with 

your permission, Madam Chairwoman, that we would like to submit for the record. 

[No questions were submitted.] 

But to me, I mean, just that we have not updated that, I mean, 

the law did not specifically say that we could not update it, did it? 

Mr. WILSON. No, it did not. 

Mr. BOOZMAN. I thank you, Mr. Wilson. The fact that high-tech 

industry was a booming industry then and now it is not, I mean, 

we have to have somebody that forecasts the future and I read that 

in Parade Magazine all the time where they say this is what is 

going to be. And they get that, I am sure, from the Labor Department and from industry. 

But I guess, again, that to me illustrates that is it a fair statement to say that our men and women that have this program, are 

they lagging behind in their ability to receive education compared 

to other people in business and in college or whatever entity as far 

as their ability to access education? Does that make sense? 

In other words, my daughter is in college and she picks up hours 

online. I understand the fraud and abuse stuff and that has to be 

and, yet, we have kind of gone through a lot of that in the sense 

that those things that were very unheard of almost a few years ago 

those things are very prevalent right now. 

Is that a fair statement, if you can make any sense out of that? 

Mr. WILSON. I believe I can. If you are asking me whether the 

individuals are disadvantaged right now compared to non-veterans, 

I feel I would be speculating if I answered it. I do not have enough 

information. 

Mr. BOOZMAN. What is your gut feeling? 

Mr. WILSON. If you were to compare the veterans to like individuals that do not have the means to pay for accelerated pay type 

programs, I would say they are at an advantage. If you compare 

them to people that have the means, I would say that they are at 

a disadvantage. What I do not know is where the break is there, 

are there more or less of either. 

Mr. BOMBARD. I would concur with that, what Mr. Wilson has 

just stated. 

Mr. BOOZMAN. Okay. Well, thank you all. 

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. 

Mr. BOMBARD. I would like to address an issue that was brought 

up in the last panel. Is that possible? 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. It will be. I would like to recognize Mr. 

McNerney for any questions he may have of the two of you and 

then we can turn it over to you to address that issue that may have 

come up before we may have any final questions. 

Mr. McNerney. 

Mr. MCNERNEY. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. 


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And I want to thank the panel for coming in and describing the 

accelerated program. It sounds like a good idea. 

Do you have any way or have you tracked performance of the recipients of the accelerated program versus the standard GI program? 

Mr. WILSON. In terms of outcomes, completions of the training? 

Mr. MCNERNEY. Right. 

Mr. WILSON. We do not have firm data on that. We do have an 

initiative underway right now with the National Student Clearinghouse to develop outcome measures for all of our program participants. But at this point, we do not have anything specific, no. 

Mr. MCNERNEY. Well, it sounds like you want to expand this accelerated program to include all veterans that seek GI Bill type assistance. 

Do you have a specific language or a bill in mind or do you have 

something prepared that you want to present? 

Mr. WILSON. Nothing beyond what is in our minds at this point. 

Mr. MCNERNEY. Okay. 

Mr. WILSON. We are still working through that. But as I mentioned earlier, I would be more than happy to work with the Committee and Subcommittee on doing that. 

Mr. MCNERNEY. I want to follow up a little bit on what the 

Chairwoman asked in terms of cost. Do you have an idea if it is 

more expensive to administer the accelerated payment program to 

a veteran than it is to administer or including the cost of outlays 

to the veteran? 

Mr. WILSON. Administrative costs, I would venture to say it is a 

wash for a couple of reasons. First of all, we are only making normally one payment where we may be making several payments. 

There is a little bit of difference in terms of how we handle the fiscal transactions, but I would say overall, the difference in the administrative cost is negligible. 

In terms of the amount of outlays otherwise as compared to normally receiving the benefit, that is a little difficult to predict. But 

if one makes the assumption that the individual that is using the 

accelerated pay provision would not be using the GI Bill benefit 

otherwise, then everything that we pay under accelerated pay 

would be additional outlays. 

I do not know if you can really make that conclusion because we 

do not know for sure whether an individual would use MGIB without this provision. At this point, that would be a leap of faith that 

we would have to make. 

Mr. MCNERNEY. Okay. And then the last question for you, Mr. 

Wilson, is effectiveness in terms of reaching veterans that might 

not otherwise receive assistance. Does this reach veterans, do you 

think, in your opinion that would not otherwise be able to get assistance for education? 

Mr. WILSON. I believe it does. All of our outreach material discusses the accelerated pay provisions that we can pay under the 

law. So as long as an individual is made aware of our material, 

they should be made aware of this specific part of the program. 

Mr. MCNERNEY. I have a question for Mr. Bombard. Hopefully it 

is a question you were considering. One of the earlier panels was 

talking about how unscrupulous individuals can take advantage of 


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veterans that are seeking assistance. If the high-tech restrictions 

are lifted, then it seems to me that it would open up this to even 

greater abuse. Is that something that you would agree with or disagree with? 

Mr. BOMBARD. I think that if you remove the restriction and as 

you expand the sample, you are going to have more opportunity for 

people to be unscrupulous and take advantage of the situation. 

I think that the approving agencies and the Department can 

monitor that and prevent that from happening. I have no doubt 

that people will try to take advantage of the situation, but I also 

think it is manageable. 

Mr. MCNERNEY. Okay. No further questions. I yield back, I 

guess, is the right way to put it. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Thank you, Mr. McNerney. 

Mr. Bombard, was there another issue that you would like to address? 

Mr. BOMBARD. Yes. Mr. Weidman made mention to the fact that 

the entrepreneurial training programs and the SAAs sometimes 

are loggerheads. The example that he used was one in New York. 

And as being the SAA Director in New York, I was intimately 

aware of what he was talking about. 

And to backtrack a little, the National Association of State Approving Agencies has met with the leadership in Kansas City of the 

Entrepreneurial Group and have come up with plans to approve 

these programs across the Nation. 

The person in New York who is a very bright leader in that field 

decided that he would take those courses that are approvable and 

put them on tape and make them distance learning. Well, once you 

make it distance learning, you change the dynamic. 

The law says distance learning cannot be approved unless it is 

affiliated with an IHL, an Institute of Higher Learning. They were 

not. 

We are currently in the process of working with that individual 

and as of last week, they are going to affiliate with a local 2-year 

community college from the State University System and the program will be approved. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Do you feel that the requirement by law 

that distance learning be affiliated with an IHL is an important requirement and important protection or perhaps along the lines of 

some of what Mr. Boozman was exploring, distance learning is becoming more and more acceptable? 

Mr. BOMBARD. It is something on its way and I think that, in 

fact, someone mentioned to me the other day that the Advisory 

Committee was going to take a good look at that. It is an area 

which is difficult to get your hands on or to get around the concept. 

But I also think it is an area that both the Advisory Committee 

and the Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs has to 

examine in depth. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. I would agree with that. I also would 

think in part to address as we try to lift this restriction in the 

broadest way feasible, and realistically here and gradually do it 

more that there might be some avenue, and probably through outreach, whereas more of the distance learning programs that may 

currently be unaffiliated with an Institution of Higher Learning 


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had an avenue whether it is through the National Association of 

Approving Agencies or through working with the folks you mentioned in Kansas City, right, the Entrepreneurial——

Mr. BOMBARD. The Kauffman Foundation. 

Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. The Kauffman Foundation seeks approval rather than waiting for the veteran to get some informational material about the program and then have to kind of maneuver himself or herself through the process working with the VA and 

SAA of getting it approved. An avenue for these distance learning 

programs to go seek the approval. That may be worth exploring as 

well to enhance the distance learning options, especially for some 

of our veterans that are living in more rural areas as it relates to 

access and transportation issues. 

Unless there are any further questions, I have a couple of final 

requests. Mr. Wilson, in your testimony, you talked about the 4,045 

accelerated claims that are granted thus far. In light of Mr. 

Boozman’s questioning that, this is initiated in 2002 where this list 

was approved, there have not been changes since. 

If you could provide the Subcommittee with a breakdown of the 

programs that students enrolled in using that accelerated education benefit for each of the years starting in 2002, maybe we can 

look at some trends and patterns. Then I would like to compare 

that, and compare the current list with the President’s high-growth 

job training initiative. 

I do not know if you are familiar with that, but that seeks to 

train workers to meet the future demands on 14 specific sectors of 

the economy. It includes transportation which I think is broadly 

encompassing the commercial driver’s license programs that we 

have been discussing in the bill introduced by Mr. Michaud. It also 

includes energy which is very important in light of programs that 

are being developed to train people. 

I will use one example, as it relates to wind turbines and the 

maintenance. Again, I do not know if these would qualify as high 

tech under the definition we currently use, but I think when the 

President puts forth the high-growth job training initiative, that is 

designed to meet the needs in certain sectors, whether it be transportation, energy, or healthcare. Someone gave the example earlier 

about the EMS kind of transferability that does not currently exist 

for the CDLs. 

I think that would help us to see the breakdown, see which programs have the highest utilization rate, and then do a comparison 

next to these other sectors that have been identified for high need 

that might give us a basis from which to work. Certainly starting 

with the issue of flexibility, and the distance learning issues, there 

is a whole lot that we can talk more about to meet the objective 

that I think is the same for all of us. 

Just as soon as you could get us that information, that would be 

helpful for maybe a more informal meeting that we would like to 

set up with your office. 

I want to thank our panelists again for their testimony on all of 

the panels today. We want to wish you a good rest of the week and 

weekend. We will look forward to working with you more. We value 

your expertise, your insights, and I appreciate folks sticking around 


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from earlier panels and being able to address issues that were 

raised in earlier panels and seeking clarification. 

Thank you for your interest on the topic and your work with the 

Subcommittee. The hearing stands adjourned. 

[Whereupon, at 3:56 p.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.] 


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A P P E N D I X 

Prepared Statement of Hon. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin 

Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. The Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee hearing on accelerated education benefits for veterans will 

come to order. 

Today, we will be hearing testimony on accelerated education benefits. In 2001, 

Congress passed legislation to assist veterans in paying for short-term high-cost 

education programs. Instead of paying the monthly education payments, accelerated 

education benefits provide a lump sum of 60 percent of tuition for certain programs. 

To be eligible to participate in the accelerated education benefit program, individuals must qualify for the Montgomery G.I. Bill–Active Duty, be enrolled in a shortterm high-cost education program such as life or physical science, engineering, 

mathematics or computer specialties, and intend to seek employment in a high-technology industry. In addition, the tuition and fees must be 200 percent of the MGIB 

benefit that an individual would receive for that term. To date, approximately 4,000 

veterans have or are benefiting from this important program. 

You might recall that on May 25, 2005, under the leadership of Mr. Boozman, this 

Subcommittee conducted a hearing on the issue of accelerated education benefits. 

That hearing raised several interesting issues that we can build upon today. 

While I am supportive of this program, I am very interested in receiving testimony to help the Subcommittee determine: if the process time is adequate and 

meeting the needs of servicemembers; if expansion of eligible programs is warranted; and if expansion beyond the Montgomery G.I. Bill–Active Duty Chapter 30 

is warranted as well. 

Joining us on our first panel is Congressman Michael Michaud, a senior Member 

of our Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health. 

On our second panel of witnesses, we will hear from Mr. Chris Burruss, President 

of the Professional Truck Driver Institute; Mr. Rick Weidman, Director of Government Relations for the Vietnam Veterans of America; and Mr. Ron Chamrin, Assistant Director of Economics for the American Legion. 

Participating on our third panel is Mr. James Bombard, Chairman of the VA’s 

Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education; and Mr. Keith Wilson, Director of Education Service for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 

I look forward to learning more from the testimonies we receive today and working with our colleagues to ensure our Nation’s veterans are provided the best education services that they have rightfully earned and deserve. 

f 

Prepared Statement of Hon. John Boozman 

Ranking Republican Member, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 

Good afternoon. 

Thank you, Madame Chairwoman, for bringing us together today to discuss the 

accelerated payment option of the Montgomery GI Bill. 

First, I have a list of the approved high-technology programs taken from the VA 

Web site and I ask unanimous consent that the list be entered in the record. 

The original intent of this payment option was to improve the affordability of relatively high-cost, short-duration programs. Absent specificity from Congress, the Department coordinated with the National Science Foundation and the Bureau of 

Labor Statistics to create the approved list and I’m sure the Department is prepared 

to describe the process. Despite what is a lengthy list, incongruities exist. For example, urban forestry is approved but nursing is not. 

I believe it may be time to refocus the program and better define the goal of the 

program. While improving funding for high-tech courses is a valid goal, I think it 


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ignores one of the major shortcomings in the GI Bill, and that is the 30% of those 

who sign up but never use their benefit. College is not for everyone nor does a longterm degree program fit in every life situation. 

For example, those servicemembers who leave the military are often married with 

children and cannot afford 4 years away from the job market and need help in the 

form of affordable short-term education or training in fields that may be normally 

viewed as non-high tech. I believe, therefore, the accelerated benefit program should 

be a tool to make veterans’ education benefits more flexible to help these veterans. 

We should focus primarily on improving access to non-degree programs. That 

would include things like short-term certification courses but not a course that is 

part of a degree. And, given the level of sophistication of most sectors of the economy, it is hard to find jobs other than the most basic general labor that do not either require or strongly encourage formal education or training. Take truck driving 

for example. My district is home to the headquarters of five of the 10 largest trucking companies in America and I know for a fact that they are constantly seeking 

new long- and short-haul drivers. With all the regulations regarding hazardous materials and driving standards, truck driving is becoming more technically oriented 

every day. And I believe the industry needs about 100,000 more drivers for jobs that 

offer starting pay in the $40,000 range. 

I note that one of our witnesses today will testify to the standards to certify truck 

driving schools. I have seen their criteria and let’s just say today’s schools are not 

what our fathers would have been taught. Other transportation modes such as the 

railroads and certainly aviation also have significant technical training. 

But high technology should not be the only determinant. There are sectors of the 

economy crying for help these days, most of which require employees to master 

some measure of high technology. Transportation, hospitality, construction, healthcare, are just four of the dozen high-demand job fields that offer good wages and 

careers for our veterans. 

Madame Chairwoman, I look forward to working with you to make our education 

benefits programs more relevant to all of our veterans. 

f 

Prepared Statement of Hon. Michael H. Michaud 

a Representative in Congress from the State of Maine 

Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin and Ranking Member Boozman, Members of the 

Subcommittee, I appreciate the initiative your Subcommittee has shown in considering my bipartisan legislation, H.R. 1824, and allowing me the opportunity to appear to discuss this important bill. 

We owe a great debt to those who put their lives in harm’s way protecting our 

country. When they come home, I believe it is critical that we provide them with 

an opportunity to live the American dream that they have risked so much to protect. 

That means providing healthcare and benefits compensation. It also means ensuring 

economic opportunity. 

My legislation would allow accelerated payments of educational assistance under 

the Montgomery GI Bill to an eligible veteran enrolled in an approved program of 

education or training that leads to employment as an operator of a commercial 

motor vehicle. Current law only provides such ‘‘accelerated’’ payment for approved 

training programs that will lead to employment in a high-technology sector. I do not 

believe we should limit the range of opportunities available to our veterans and my 

bill takes a step in expanding these opportunities. My provision would expand accelerated payment of MGIB benefits to eligible veterans seeking employment in the 

high-demand field of commercial trucking. Many CDL training courses are short 

term and require up-front payment of tuition, and thus, do not conform to the current MGIB payment system of $1,075 per month over 36 months. 

In addition, my bill includes an important provision that would exclude benefits 

under the MGIB from being considered as income for purposes of determining eligibility for education grants or student loans under any other provision of Federal 

law. Current eligibility rules for receiving certain student Federal financial aid programs include MGIB payments in the calculation of resources. In other words, what 

this provision is saying is that we should not penalize our veterans for taking advantage of this earned benefit. 

Madame Chairwoman, easing the transition of our military personnel back to civilian life is a responsibility our government must fully embrace. I believe my bill 

takes a step in that direction. 

I would like to thank you and Ranking Member Boozman for your leadership on 

these issues and for allowing me to appear before your Committee. 

f 


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Prepared Statement of Chris Burruss 

President, Professional Truck Driver Institute 

President, Truckload Carriers Association, and 

President, North American Training Management Institute 

INTRODUCTION 

Good afternoon, Madame Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin, Ranking Member 

Boozman, and Members of the Subcommittee. My name is Chris Burruss, President 

of the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), the North American Training Management Institute (NATMI), and I am here today as the President of the Professional 

Truck Driver Institute (PTDI). I appreciate the opportunity to appear before the 

Subcommittee on behalf of PTDI and to have this opportunity to voice our support 

for expansion of the GI Bill. PTDI and TCA would also like to commend Representative Michaud for sponsoring H.R. 1824 and Representatives Miller and Herseth 

Sandlin for cosponsoring the bill, which would enable many unemployed veterans 

to find quality work in the trucking industry upon reentering the civilian workforce. 

After having served in the United States Marine Corps, for 5 years on active duty, 

and as a veteran of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, I understand the 

time a veteran spends trying to rejoin the civilian workforce. And, I personally applaud this Committee for trying to help our veterans regain their livelihood in a 

steadfast manner. 

The Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI), a part of the Truckload Carriers 

Association, was established by the trucking industry in 1986, and since that time 

PTDI has become the Nation’s foremost advocate of standards and professionalism 

for entry-level truck drivers. This national nonprofit organization’s goal is to advance truck driver training, proficiency, safety, and professionalism among drivers. 

PTDI serves as an independent agent for voluntary certification of entry-level commercial truck driver training. Performance standards established by PTDI are industry-driven and incorporate the Federal Highway Administration’s ‘‘Minimum 

Standards for Training Tractor-Trailer Drivers.’’ A certification team verifies that 

the school maintains compliance with 37 certification standards in areas of course 

administration; curriculum; instructional personnel; training vehicles; instruction; 

student evaluation and testing; outcomes and records. 

OVERVIEW OF THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INDUSTRY 

Commercial truck traffic is vital to our Nation’s economic prosperity and plays a 

significant role in mitigating adverse economic effects during a national or regional 

emergency. Our economy depends on trucks to deliver 10 billion tons of virtually 

every commodity consumed—or nearly 70 percent of all freight transported annually 

in the United States. In the United States alone, this accounts for $671 billion 

worth of goods transported by truck. Add $295 billion in truck trade with Canada 

and $195.6 billion in truck trade with Mexico and it becomes apparent that any disruption in truck traffic will lead to rapid economic instability. With these accomplishments, we have made trucking a powerhouse in the transportation arena. No 

other mode of freight transportation has so successfully—and so safely—carved out 

its position in the national economy. The industry has proudly achieved this milestone while reducing the number of fatalities and injuries from large truck crashes. 

By way of background, the industry has several transportation sectors within it, 

with different types of truck carriers classified for different purposes. The less-thantruckload (LTL) carrier provides transportation of partial-load shipments or full 

trailer-load shipments that go to multiple destinations. LTL carriers are comprised 

of two distinct segments, national LTL and regional LTL. The national LTL participants operate a ‘‘hub-and-spoke’’ network with an average length of haul of 1,200 

to 1,400 miles. The regional LTL segment is characterized by numerous carriers, 

typically nonunion, that operate a modified hub-and-spoke network, with an average 

length of haul of 200 to 600 miles for most freight. Typically, these truck drivers 

deliver or pick up merchandise within a dedicated route and are usually home the 

same day. 

Truckload carriers transport trailer-load shipments bound for a single destination 

and routes tend to be irregular with few terminals (used mainly for maintenance). 

The shipment is usually 10,000 pounds or more. There are several sub-categories 

including dry-van, flatbed, temperature-controlled, tanker, and regional and expedited. Operations vary depending on length of haul, which falls into three service 

categories: long-haul (over 1,000 miles), medium-haul (600–1,000 miles) and shorthaul (less than 600 miles). 

These drivers haul a great deal of freight tonnage across America, including, but 

not limited to, automobiles, livestock, consumer products, gas, oil and other combusVerDate Aug 31 2005 09:48 Feb 12, 2008 Jkt 035637 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 6604 Sfmt 6621 E:\HR\OC\35637.XXX 35637

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1Global Insights Inc., The U.S. Truck Driver Shortage: Analysis and Forecast, May, 2005. 2 National Association of Publicly-Funded Truck Driver Schools Survey, 2004. 

tibles, including hazardous materials. Unlike the LTL drivers, this type of driver 

can spend a great amount of time on the road and may not always return home 

every day after each run. Many long-haul tractor-trailer drivers drive in teams for 

long runs—one driver sleeps in a ‘‘sleeper berth’’ for a portion of the route while 

the other drives. The truckload segment of the sector is really today’s rolling inventory allowing goods that are manufactured in the morning to be delivered to their 

final destination the same evening. 

TRUCKLOAD DRIVER SHORTAGE ISSUE 

Madame Chairwoman, it is the truckload segment of the truck transportation industry that is facing a critical shortage of qualified drivers. In the next 5 years, we 

expect both the economy and trucking to grow 15%. In a little more than a decade, 

the demand for truck services will increase by more than 30%, which means the 

trucking industry will transport 3.3 billion more tons of freight than it carries today. 

To put that in perspective, that’s nearly 1 billion tons greater than the total volume 

of freight that railroads will carry 10 years from now. 

In order to accommodate this higher demand, the number of Class 8 trucks will 

increase by 32%, putting close to 1 million additional trucks on the road. This 

equates to needing the same amount of drivers in order to move the freight. The 

ATA report released in May 2005, reported that it estimates that between 2004 

through 2014, the size of the white male population between the ages of 35 to 54, 

a demographic group that provides over half of all long-haul truck drivers currently, 

will decline by 3 million.1 Further, Global Insight’s projection of trend growth in the 

potential supply of and demand for long-haul heavy-duty truck drivers indicates a 

widening imbalance during the next 10 years. Currently, there is already a shortage 

of long-haul heavy-duty truck drivers of approximately 20,000 needed to haul freight 

tonnage across the country. 

CHALLENGES TO RECRUITING QUALIFIED TRUCK DRIVERS 

Through my involvement as a past State Trucking Association President and now 

as President of PTDI and TCA, I can tell you that oftentimes, truck driving schools 

and carriers have to reject more applicants than they can actually enroll, despite 

the severe driver shortage. The reason for this is that the truck-driving industry is 

heavily regulated. The Department of Transportation, through the Federal Motor 

Carrier Safety Administration, places many restrictions on the type of individual 

that carriers can and cannot hire to drive a truck. The industry is presently awaiting the new recommended entry-level driver training requirements from FMCSA. 

Further, insurance companies that underwrite carriers can place even more restrictions on a company regarding who they can hire as a truck driver. 

Under the FMCSA regulations, a ‘‘qualified driver’’ applying for an interstate 

truck driving job, generally speaking, is a driver who is: at least 21 years old; can 

successfully pass physical qualifications and examinations; can understand the 

English language; passes a controlled substances test; and, if carrying hazardous 

materials, completes a fingerprint/background check as prescribed by the Transportation Security Administration to be declared not to be a national security risk. TCA 

was disheartened when FMCSA turned down our petition for a pilot program to 

allow qualified and specially trained 19 and 20 year olds to operate commercial 

motor vehicles in interstate commerce. Current Federal regulations prescribe a minimum age of 21 for interstate truck drivers, even though the same commercial vehicles can be legally operated in intrastate commerce by drivers below the age of 21 

in every state except two. We hope to revisit this petition as a way to gain drivers 

that we currently lose to other trades where there is not an age requirement. Stringent government regulation is, by no means, the only factor responsible for the driver shortage problem—there are several reasons why it exists. Both TCA and ATA 

are studying this critical industry issue and are exploring new ways to address it. 

The critical issue is the lack of available funding for students who would like a 

career in professional truck driving and are otherwise qualified, but cannot afford 

the cost of tuition to attend a professional truck driving training school. The national average tuition to attend a professional truck driving training school for an 

average of 4 to 6 weeks is $4,000.2 I emphasize that these are just averages. Driver 

training is essential and must be taught by a reputable truck driving school in order 

for the driver to obtain the knowledge and skills to successfully pass both the written and road-testing requirements of the commercial drivers licensing test. A company will not hire a driver, nor will any civilian individuals legally be able to drive 


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a commercial motor vehicle, without a valid, state-issued CDL. (Please note each 

state has its own CDL test requirements, it is not a Federal standardized test.) 

For the prospective truck driver student, who has the means to finance his/her 

education at a proprietary (privately-owned) truck driving school, there is no problem. However, for the student or veteran who would like to attend truck driving 

school but does not have the means, financing his/her education can be a daunting, 

often disappointing task. These students, in many cases, must apply for high interest, personal loans—some of whom are turned away due to poor credit history. Others weed through the web of Federal bureaucracy to find an alternative funding 

source, consisting of either full or partial Federal grant funds. 

Publicly-funded truck driver training programs are oftentimes operated out of the 

community college or vocational school system. They do not operate on a ‘‘for-profit’’

basis and in most cases, can offer a somewhat lower rate of tuition for truck driver 

training programs. 

CURRENT GI BILL SYSTEM OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE NOT AN EFFICIENT FUNDING MECHANISM FOR TRUCK DRIVER TRAINING 

SCHOOL TUITION 

Accelerated benefits, which have in the past been available for high-tech occupations since 2002, make short-term, high-cost training programs more attractive to 

veterans by paying benefits in lump sum per term, and by covering a greater share 

(60%) of the cost of such programs. H.R. 1824 would expand this program to eligible 

veterans seeking employment in the high demand field of commercial trucking. 

Under the current system a veteran who is eligible for full time, active duty 

MGIB benefits may receive a maximum monthly educational benefit of $1,004. Most 

truck driving schools, through their financial aid offices, submit a veteran student 

truck driver’s DD–214 to the VA for processing. From that point, it can take upward 

of 45 days before the veteran student receives his or her first $1,004 MGIB benefit 

check to apply toward the school’s tuition cost. Schools that work with veterans report that there is a tremendous lag time between payment and services rendered. 

By the time a veteran receives his or her first $1,004 check the student may have 

completed one-half of his or her $4,000 worth of training, depending upon the school 

selected. 

Public, private or carrier-based truck driving training schools do not typically operate on a traditional semester-based system. More or less, they operate on a rolling 

schedule, with new enrollments/classes beginning every few weeks. For a school that 

has been qualified by the VA to receive MGIB educational benefits, the current VA 

funding mechanism through which the school receives payment from the MGIB recipient is far from efficient. 

Upon the veteran student’s completion of the 2- to 3-month truck driver training 

program, the school may have collected approximately 2 to 3 thousand dollars in 

MGIB benefit moneys of the $4,000 tuition fee still owed. Because the truck driver 

training school has no control over the distribution of MGIB funds, when or whether 

the school will receive full tuition payment can create concern for all involved parties. 

A CAREER IN LONG HAUL TRUCK DRIVING 

For those individuals who are willing to work, are careful, safe and responsible, 

the trucking industry offers them a wonderful opportunity. There are very few industries where an individual with a high school degree enter a profession with only 

4–6 weeks of training, which is unlikely to experience ‘‘downsizing’’ and, offers them 

an entry-level possible salary of between $42–45,000 a year. However, once trained 

these positions can enable a veteran to make an upward salary of $60,000–$100,000 

or more if they choose to become an Owner Operator. Without a doubt, today’s new 

professional driver must be as savvy about technology as most white collar workers, 

and lack of this knowledge may slow down career progress. What the trucking industry also offers is job security; these training dollars will stay in the United 

States. 

There are, as is the case with every job, downsides to long-haul truckload truck 

driving which are usually explained at the outset by the school instructor to every 

truck driver trainee. For those who chose to leave the truck driving profession, the 

most often-cited reason was the lifestyle. Long haul truck driving requires that the 

driver spend varying degrees of time away from home and a lot of time on the road. 

The industry is addressing this issue and many companies are trying to address the 

lifestyle issue by seeking ways to allow the driver more ‘‘home time.’’


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VETERANS ARE OUTSTANDING CANDIDATES FOR EMPLOYMENT IN 

THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY 

According to most truck driving schools, the reason they like to recruit veterans 

is simple. According to most truck driving school recruiters, former military personnel make the best students and have a higher training graduation rate than 

their civilian counterparts. From the trucking companies’ perspective, veterans have 

the reputation of being outstanding employees. Their military training and background lends itself to (among other traits) leadership, respect for procedures, integrity and teamwork—ideal characteristics sought by all employers but vital to the 

success of a professional commercial truck driver. Additionally, most veterans, particularly those who have been recently separated from the armed services, are able 

to pass the drug and alcohol screening tests; the physical examination process; and, 

may have a good civilian driving record. For veterans whose military occupational 

specialty, or MOS, involved heavy truck driving, professional commercial truck driving may be a natural career path. What is also an advantage for the veterans, is 

although they are used to being away from their families, when they finally get 

home, they do not want to have to move their families. As this is a job that moves 

across the United States, you can leave your family situated were they are, and take 

a job in another state. 

Although a military license does not automatically convert into a CDL in most 

U.S. states, the skills gained driving a truck in the military are certainly of great 

value when applying them to a truck driver training school program. TCA has communicated with the Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs 

in an effort to make the licensing transition less complicated. 

Many PTDI schools have created special evaluations for the veterans reentering 

the workforce with their MCDL, to see exactly how much training they will require. 

Many times they just need refresher courses, or specific training in the regulations, 

and then they are accommodated accordingly. 

CONCLUSION 

In closing, Madame Chairwoman, I would like to ask that this Subcommittee join 

PTDI and TCA in support of Congressman Michaud’s bill H.R. 1824. Our veterans 

looking for a second career deserve our support. 

As an industry projected to add substantial numbers of new jobs to the economy, 

the transportation industry and PTDI is interested in working with you to address 

the skill shortage and workforce challenges. As an industry that has been recognized in The President’s High Growth Job Training Initiative at the Department of 

Labor, we look forward to working with the Subcommittee to further this initiative. 

This concludes my remarks, Madame Chairwoman. Thank you. 

f 

Prepared Statement of Richard F. Weidman 

Executive Director for Policy and Government Affairs 

Vietnam Veterans of America 

Chairwoman Sandlin, Ranking Member Boozman, and Members of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) thanks 

you for the opportunity to testify here today. And on behalf of our officers, our Board 

of Directors, our members and their families, we thank you, too, for the important 

work you are doing, and the initiatives you are taking, on behalf of our Nation’s 

veterans. Not everyone will need medical care or other services, but everyone (including disabled veterans) will need a job and/or assistance and training that will 

help lead to gainful employment, and their fullest possible reintegration into the life 

of our country. 

We would like to focus our comments this morning on just a narrow issue of noncredit training, particularly entrepreneurial training for those who wish to go into 

small business or self employment. It has been said so often that by now it is almost 

a truism to say that self employment is many times not only the best avenue for 

disabled veterans (particularly profoundly disabled veterans) to secure gainful employment worthy of their talents where they live, but it may be the only way. That 

may be particularly true in rural areas like most of South Dakota and northwest 

Arkansas, and many other parts of the country. It is worth bearing in mind that 

apparently more than half of those deployed overseas come from towns of 25,000 

or less, where job opportunities are much more truncated than is the case in more 

highly urbanized areas of the United States. This makes the work of this Subcommittee all the more important. 


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VVA strongly favored the extension of the Montgomery GI Bill benefits to pay for 

special vocational programs in the past few years, including the initiative for noncredit courses for those who need additional training in order to succeed at the business they are already working, or to be prepared to more successfully launch a business on which they are embarking. 

It has become clear that the rules for approving some of these courses are so 

stringent as to discourage many of the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) 

from even trying to have their courses approved. It is a matter of striking a reasonable balance between quality and accessibility, between the hours spent in the classroom and the way adults actually do most learning today in this digital day of almost universal access to the Internet and computers. VVA would suggest that this 

is particularly for those who are in business or about to launch their own business. 

Their time for studying and processing the material is often whenever they can fit 

it in, which is often an hour here and an hour there during the work day (which 

is often 12 or more hours), and that often will not conform to the needs of a more 

traditional classroom model. 

I must caution that VVA has always, and continues to have the highest respect 

for the way in which most of the State Approving Agency people do their job of protecting veterans from unscrupulous operators of ‘‘fly-by-night’’ businesses that masquerade as legitimate training academies of one sort or another. 

However, the Nation’s system of more than one thousand Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) are NOT unscrupulous operators, but well respected and 

sought after resources, that are often the genesis of as well as one of the engines 

of prosperity for economic development within an area. As you know, there is at 

least one SBDC in each of the 435 congressional districts in the country, because 

everybody wanted one! 

Most of their offerings are paid for straight out of the pocket of the entrepreneurs 

and would be entrepreneurs and small businessowners. They pay for these courses 

and training regimen because they believe that this knowledge and training will 

help them have a better chance of succeeding at their small business. Overall experience in the small business community indicates that they are correct that their 

chances of success are greatly enhanced by purchasing such training. 

It is clear that the SAA continue to uphold what they see as the clear legal standards set in law and regulation for traditional training, and do a fine job of it. The 

problem is that many of the veterans who are in small business want and need 

training that is not offered in these traditional formats from the SBDC. Congress 

enacted changes in the GI Bill in order to help these veteran businessowners and 

entrepreneurs to be able to receive assistance to pay for these courses. However, 

nothing was done to change the format of the standards and benchmarks that the 

SAA must adhere to in upholding quality standards to reflect that these are often 

not traditional classroom training. It is clear that the Congress must now work with 

the Association of Small Business Development Centers and others to develop language in the law that both protects the veteran and yet makes it possible for approval of the many fine offerings of the SBDC needed by veteran-owned businesses. 

Given that the very nature of the delivery system for adult learning in America continues to evolve, it is hardly likely that this problem is limited to just the entrepreneurial courses offered by the SBDC. Therefore an initiative that offers a new legal 

paradigm is needed in Title 38 to accommodate this vital vocational training. 

Further, VVA supports an initiative which would extend and improve certain authorities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs related to providing State Approving 

Agencies (SAAs) with funding necessary to fulfill their statutory responsibilities and 

more importantly, provide veterans with services that are vital to the success of the 

various educational assistance programs. Simply said—State Approving Agencies 

are the face of the GI Bill at the state level, and need more funds to properly do 

their job. 

In this same vein, VVA supports extending the current rates of payment for veterans who are enrolled in an apprenticeship or other on-the-job training program. 

We believe that this provision will allow more veterans who cannot or choose not 

to enroll in an institutional program to pursue training for an occupation or profession leading more directly to gainful employment, which not only helps retuning veterans and demobilized National Guard and Reserve Members to better readjust to 

civilian life, but it also helps them to help America be more competitive in the world 

economy. 

This concludes our testimony. Again, VVA is appreciative of having been afforded 

the opportunity to testify and offer our views here today. I would be pleased to respond to any of your questions. 

f 


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Prepared Statement of Ronald F. Chamrin 

Assistant Director, Economic Commission, American Legion 

The American Legion appreciates this opportunity to share its views on accelerated education payments and the impact regarding veterans’ education. 

The American Legion supports granting veterans the option to request an accelerated payment of all monthly educational benefits upon meeting the criteria for eligibility for Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) financial payments. The selection of courses 

veterans undergo remain exclusively the decision of the individual veteran, and all 

earned veterans’ education benefits should be made available to veterans in support 

of their endeavors. Accelerated education payments allow veterans to achieve education goals in the manner that they decide. Binding the timeframe of an education 

payout may restrict educational options for some veterans. 

In addition to the traditional institutions for higher learning, MGIB benefits can 

be used for training at non-college-degree institutions, on-the-job or apprenticeship 

training, independent, and distance or Internet training. The MGIB also allows the 

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse veterans for the fees charged for 

national tests for admission to institutions of higher learning and national tests providing an opportunity for course credit at institutions of higher learning. Examples 

of tests covered are SAT, GRE, CLEP, GMAT, LSAT, etc. The MGIB for veterans, 

and not those eligible under Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance 

(DEA), is available for flight training and correspondence training. 

The significance of expanding the scope of accelerated education payments is that 

the preceding categories are eligible for MGIB payments, yet excluded from accelerated education payments. The American Legion recommends that all MGIB-approved courses, including the on-the-job training (OJT) and apprenticeship courses, 

become eligible for accelerated education payments. 

The American Legion supports the expansion of Public Law 107–103 to include: 

1. Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA, or Chapter 35) 

2. Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP, or Chapter 32) 

3. Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP, or Chapter 1607) 

ACCELERATED EDUCATION PAYMENTS 

The American Legion is deeply concerned with the timely manner that veterans, 

especially returning wartime veterans, receive their education benefits. Annually, 

for the past 6 years, approximately 300,000 servicemembers, 90,000 of them belonging to the National Guard and Reserve, enter the civilian sector and have the ability 

to use their education benefits. 

Any delay in receipt of education benefits can adversely affect a veteran’s life. 

There are time restrictions on most veteran education benefits specifically, the National Guard and Reserve must remain in the Selected Reserve to use their earned 

benefits. Every effort should be made to ensure that the MGIB and related veterans’

education benefits are delivered without delay. 

Public Law 107–103 allows accelerated payments to be made available to MGIB–

AD (Chapter 30) recipients only at a lump sum payment of 60 percent of tuition 

and fees for certain high-cost, high-tech programs if the cost of the degree exceeds 

200 percent monthly rate of basic educational assistance allowance otherwise payable. To qualify, a veteran must be enrolled in a high-tech program and certify that 

they intend to seek employment in a high tech industry as defined by VA. The 

American Legion applauds the initiative of veterans entering the fields of life 

science, engineering, computer specialties, electronics and aerospace; however, the 

type of program available for accelerated payments should not be limited. 

Ironically, courses in education are excluded from this program. Truck driving, 

program evaluation, policy, law, communication, early childhood education, human 

resources, recreation, and liberal arts are other programs that are also excluded. 

The minimum threshold to qualify for accelerated education payments based upon 

the FY 2007 pay rates for Chapter 30 is at least $2,150 a month for full time, $1,612 

for three-quarter time, $1,075 for half time to one-quarter time, and $537 for less 

than one-quarter time. The credit hours for these categories are 12, 9–11, 6–8 and 

less than 6 respectfully. For graduate-level training, the training time is determined 

by the college. 

The American Legion is concerned with the ranges of program costs throughout 

the country. Consideration should be made to lower the 200 percent threshold for 

receiving accelerated payments. 

The American Legion supports legislation that would conform to our recommendations. Increasing the educational benefit available through the MGIB will provide 


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a better incentive to veterans to complete a program with immediate employment 

results, without the concern of going into short-term debt. 

Amending Title 38, United States Code, to expand the scope of programs of education for which accelerated education payments of all educational assistance under 

the MGIB is needed. Accelerated education payments would greatly assist qualified 

veterans enrolled in an approved program of education that leads to employment, 

such as truck driving. This expansion would give veterans more educational options 

and a better diversity of vocations. 

Not every veteran is destined for college; therefore, the MGIB needs to be more 

accessible for those veterans with vocational aspirations other than college. The 

overall costs of these ‘‘short-term’’ vocational training and licensing programs far exceed the monthly stipend provided under the traditional ‘‘college-student-for-36- 

months’’ approach in the current MGIB. 

Veterans should be afforded the opportunity to attend compressed high-front-endcost programs that will lead to the vocation of their choice. Veterans who attend 

these programs should have the opportunity to use a portion of their earned benefits 

at an accelerated rate. Expanded options will also increase utilization of the MGIB. 

In addition, a higher percentage of today’s servicemembers are married (with children in the majority of cases) when they are discharged. Meeting the financial obligations to sustain and maintain a household is paramount, and often serves as a 

major obstacle to their timely use of the MGIB. Every effort must be made to empower these, and every veteran, with options to make the best vocational choice to 

help them achieve the American dream. 

In addition, the American Legion strongly supports the expansion of the program 

to include other short-term programs of value that could lead to the immediate employment of veterans. 

CURRENT PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH LIMITED APPROVED 

PROGRAMS FOR ACCELERATED MGIB PAYMENTS 

Frequent Active Duty Activations Among Reserve Forces 

The American Legion asserts that due to the frequent call-ups of the National 

Guard and Reserve Forces, veterans are forced to divert from the traditional semester schedule in an attempt to finish their programs before the next call-up. 

National Guard and Reserve units are continuously training in preparation for 

war. Leadership development, combat lifesaver, communications, language, airborne, and air assault are examples of courses that are conducted year round. One 

in particular, leadership development courses, are required for any promotion. 

Student servicemembers must choose to either enter these courses to advance 

their military career and better prepare them and their units for war, or remain 

at their universities thereby slowing their military advancement progression. Accelerated education payments will allow for these individuals to enter short-term/highcost programs that allow them to complete the course within the window between 

military requirements. 

Expansion Beyond Chapter 30 

It is important to note that accelerated education payments are only available to 

Chapter 30 benefits; Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) beneficiaries 

and other programs are barred from receiving accelerated payments. 

An example is a veteran who has deployed 15 months to Iraq earning her 36 

months of benefits at a rate of $645/month. If she chose to enter a high-cost/shortterm program such as a teaching certification program she would only be able to 

use her education benefits at the monthly rate. Furthermore, her benefit would only 

be available to her as long as she remains an active member of the Selective Reserve. 

Programs Other Than High-Tech 

Sgt. Bruce Dunlap is currently recovering from devastating injuries at the Walter 

Reed Army Medical Center from his service in Iraq. He wishes to enter the vocational rehabilitation program and work toward becoming a teacher. Bruce eagerly 

wants to be able to become self-sufficient and restart his civilian life. 

This amazingly strong-willed person has further expressed his desire to begin 

teaching and after a few years of employment enter a masters program with a more 

specific focus on advanced education. Bruce plans on using his MGIB to pay for his 

masters program while simultaneously working as a teacher. He would take highcost/short-term night courses; however, these programs are not currently eligible for 

accelerated payments. 


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Sgt. Dunlap’s educational plan is not specifically unique; civilians have similar 

style education plans that also encompass other fields. What is unique, and can 

never be overlooked, is that this story is that of a veteran. Specifically, he is a severely injured veteran that volunteered to enlist in the military and serve his country. It is our obligation to ensure that the earned educational benefits of America’s 

veterans are actually of value to those seeking a non-traditional route to their education. 

INCREASE IN USE OF VETERANS’ EDUCATION BENEFITS 

Starting in 2001, the total use of education benefits by veterans continues to increase. 

In FY 2006, approximately 470,000 individuals received education benefits. This 

equates to approximately 3 million courses taken by veterans. 

With the increasing number of eligible veterans and the increasing quantity of 

discharged veterans, the need for assistance and implementation of all elements of 

veterans’ benefits will continue to rise. 

Accelerated education payments of MGIB benefits will assist veterans to use their 

education benefits in a manner that best serves them. 

CONCLUSION 

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 Harry W. Colmery, Past National Commander 

of the American Legion, that enabled millions of veterans to purchase their first 

homes, attend college, obtain vocational training, and start private businesses. 

Accelerated education payments are an instrument that will allow earned education benefits to be used for all MGIB-approved courses. In such, the number of 

beneficiaries and total value of the MGIB program will increase. Furthermore, in 

a time of war, every effort to promote and facilitate the use of veterans’ education 

benefits must be a national priority. 

The American Legion believes that honorable military service, combined with improved education and vocational training opportunities, enhances an individual, increases diversity, and betters society as a whole. The education pillar is continuous 

and ever evolving. The diminishment of support for educational opportunities for 

veterans will decrease the ability to recruit new servicemembers, and unfairly subject veterans to barriers of benefits that they have earned. 

The American Legion appreciates the opportunity to present this statement for 

the record. 

f 

Prepared Statement of James Bombard 

Chairman, Veterans Advisory Committee on Education 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 

Introduction 

Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin, Ranking Member Boozman and Members of the 

Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, I am pleased to appear before you today 

on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Secretary’s Veterans Advisory Committee on Education (VACOE) to provide the Committee’s view on how the 

GI Bill can be modified to expand the accelerated benefit program beyond the hightechnology industry. I have had the pleasure of working with the Members and staff 

of the Committee for many years as the Committee worked to improve various GI 

Bills. 

Remarks 

In general, much has been done in recent years to provide servicemembers, veterans, and other eligible persons with greater opportunities to use the education and 

training benefits to which they are entitled. Yet, the nature of today’s global economy demands that we continue to strive to help our workforce—especially our veterans—to gain new knowledge and learn new skills in order to maximize their contributions to the Nation. 

It is the VACOE’s view that even with the recent increases in the monthly benefit 

amount, some veterans find it cost prohibitive to enroll in an institutional program 


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that will provide the knowledge and skills necessary for them to reach their occupational or professional objective. 

Removing the current restriction that requires enrollment in a program that leads 

to employment in high-technology industries would allow greater opportunities for 

more veterans to use their GI Bill benefits. Additionally, we recommend revising the 

law to limit the length of a program that qualifies for accelerated payment to 2 

years or less. The discussions that led up to the enactment of the original legislation 

centered on short-term high-technology courses. The language that was enacted does 

not impose any limitations on length, therefore all high-technology programs, including many 4-year degree programs, qualify. We also recommend using the ‘‘base 

rate’’ because veterans who take advantage of the $600 buy-in, 34/30 conversions, 

and kicker recipients, or any combination thereof, can be penalized by having their 

additional monthly payment disqualify them for accelerated payment under the current 200% calculation method. 

Processing 

Processing time for accelerated payment allowances is on average approximately 

8 weeks for original and 2 weeks for supplemental claims. With regard to the adequacy of that timeframe this may pose a problem to veterans who are enrolled in 

short-term, high-cost programs. 

Claims processing is a complicated, time consuming endeavor which could be 

made more efficient and effective with the adoption of a Total Force GI Bill. 

It is the VACOE’s view that the accelerated payment provision should be restricted to non-degree 2 years or less programs. A good example where the accelerated payment provision needs to be expanded is commercial driver license training 

programs. Nationally truck driver programs are relatively expensive because of the 

complexities of today’s equipment and the demands of new licensing requirements 

for specialized loads. An opportunity to use the accelerated payment provision of the 

law would allow more veterans to pursue their chosen occupation. 

A word of caution, by expanding eligibility for accelerated payment the opportunity for abuse increases. Therefore, the DVA and, particularly State Approving 

Agencies (SAA), will have to be ever more vigilant. 

Summary 

The VACOE supports expanding the accelerated payment provision of section 

3014A, Title 38 USC, to include short-term 2 years or less, high-cost, non-degree 

programs. As aforementioned, the Committee also understands there will be a need 

for increased vigilance on the part of the DVA and SAAs to limit waste, fraud and 

abuse. 

Closing 

In closing, Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to present 

the views of the Advisory Committee on Veterans Education regarding accelerated 

payment provision of Title 38 USC. Thank you also for your efforts to make improvements to the education and training assistance programs that have been made 

available to those who defend the freedoms that we all so thoroughly enjoy. I would 

be happy to respond to any questions you may have. 

f 

Prepared Statement of Keith M. Wilson 

Director, Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 

Good afternoon, Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin, Ranking Member Boozman, and 

Members of the Subcommittee. I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you 

today to discuss the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) accelerated payment program. My testimony will provide an overview of the accelerated payment benefit and 

the courses of study that qualify for accelerated payment. 

Under Section 3014A, Title 38, United States Code, a Montgomery GI Bill participant pursuing high-cost courses leading to employment in a high-technology occupation in a high-technology industry has the option of receiving an accelerated benefit 

payment. This optional lump-sum accelerated benefit payment covers up to 60 percent of tuition and fees. Currently, accelerated payments are only available under 

the Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty (MGIB–AD) program. 

VA makes accelerated payments for one term, quarter, or semester at a time. 

However, if the program is not offered on a term, quarter, or semester basis, an accelerated payment is made for the entire program. 


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To qualify the individual must be enrolled in a high-technology program and must 

certify that he or she intends to seek employment in a high-technology industry as 

defined by VA. In consultation with the Department of Education, VA has defined 

the following industries as high technology: biotechnology, life science technologies, 

opto-electronics, computers and telecommunications, electronics, computer-integrated manufacturing, material design, aerospace, weapons, and nuclear technology. 

In addition, the program of study undertaken must have a sufficiently high cost. 

The tuition and fees for the program of education, when divided by the number of 

months in the enrollment period, must exceed 200 percent of the monthly rate of 

basic educational assistance allowance otherwise payable. School-related expenses, 

including books, supplies, and general living expenses, may not be counted when determining entitlement to accelerated payments. 

If these criteria are met, the individual will receive an accelerated payment in lieu 

of the monthly MGIB–AD benefits that he or she would otherwise receive for the 

covered enrollment period. Payment is generally sent directly to the eligible individual. 

Accelerated payments are granted for a variety of courses of study and for both 

degree and non-degree programs. The following courses of study may qualify for accelerated payments: 

• Life science or physical science (but not social science) 

• Engineering (all fields) 

• Mathematics 

• Computer specialties or management 

Short non-degree courses in these areas may also qualify for accelerated payments 

if they are approved for VA benefits by a State Approving Agency (SAA). 

An individual must include his or her request for an accelerated payment with 

the enrollment information sent from the school to VA for processing. The request 

for an accelerated payment should include the individual’s certification that he or 

she plans to seek employment in a high-technology industry. 

If an individual is approved to receive an accelerated payment, his or her entitlement will be charged based on the amount of payment received. VA will divide the 

amount of the accelerated payment by the amount of the individual’s full-time 

monthly rate, and his or her entitlement will be reduced by the resulting number 

of months and days. For example, if a trainee receives an accelerated payment of 

$3,600 and his or her full-time rate is $900, VA will charge 4 months of entitlement 

($3,600/$900 = 4 months). 

As noted previously, the accelerated payment program is only available to individuals eligible for MGIB–AD benefits. Since the accelerated payment program’s inception in FY 2003, we have received 4,808 accelerated payment claims through March 

31, 2007. We have granted 4,045 claims and paid almost $26 million in accelerated 

payments. The average payment amount is approximately $6,400. 

We believe the utilization of the accelerated payment program indicates that this 

provision of MGIB–AD has filled a niche in assisting eligible individuals with their 

readjustment to civilian life and preparing them for critical roles in a 21st century 

economy. 

Madame Chairwoman, this concludes my statement. I would be pleased to answer 

any questions you or any of the other Members of the Committee may have. 


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SUBMISSIONS FOR THE RECORD 

Prepared Statement of Walter G. Blackwell 

President and Chief Executive Officer 

National Veterans Business Development Corporation 

The Veterans Corporation 

Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin, Ranking Member Boozman, and distinguished 

Members of the Subcommittee, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to submit 

for the record TVC’s position on accelerated education benefits for veterans. My 

name is Walter G. Blackwell; I am the President and CEO of The Veterans Corporation and a Navy veteran. 

The National Veterans Business Development Corporation, doing business as The 

Veterans Corporation, is a Federally-chartered 501(c)(3) organization charged with 

creating and enhancing entrepreneurial business opportunities for veterans, including service-disabled veterans. 

Section 305 of Public Law 108–183 allows individuals to use VA educational assistance for non-degree, non-credit entrepreneurship courses offered by designated 

organizations called ‘‘qualified providers.’’ These courses may be pursued under the 

Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30), the Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program 

(Chapter 32), the Montgomery GI Bill–Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) and Section 

903 of Public Law 96–342, but not under the Dependents’ Educational Assistance 

Program (Chapter 35). Public Law 107–103 outlines the accelerated payment provisions for recipients of VA educational benefits under Chapter 30 (MGIB). While the 

concept of accelerated payments has been recognized by enactment of recent law, 

its implementation has fallen short. The Veterans Corporation (TVC) concern has 

been that veterans can not pay for short-term, high-cost entrepreneurial programs, 

which are often not delivered by academic institutions and do not fit familiar models 

of traditional course delivery. 

For veterans wishing to seek entrepreneurial training through the courses/training currently available through TVC and our partners; accelerated payment only 

covers part of the training cost. TVC is cautious to develop and offer additional entrepreneurial courses to veterans because the MGIB does not cover the full cost. 

For example, the MGIB only covers 70% of the cost toward the Owner-Operator 

Business Management Seminar available to veterans who wish to become an Independent Owner-Operator of a heavy-duty truck. Additionally the MGIB only covers 

60% of the cost toward the veterans commercial drivers license training. This leaves 

the Veteran left to typically pay more then $1,000 for the training needed to start 

his/her own truck driving business. 

TVC recommends that steps are taken to correct the situation and allow veterans 

the opportunity to use their education benefits to cover the entire cost of ‘‘shortterm/high-cost programs’’ and distance learning, and not limit payment only to the 

high-tech programs currently defined by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Thank you again Madame Chairwoman. This concludes my statement. 

f 

Statement of Paralyzed Veterans of America 

Chairwoman Herseth, Ranking Member Boozman, and Members of the Subcommittee, on behalf of Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), we would like to 

thank you for the opportunity to submit a statement for the record today concerning 

accelerated payments for education benefits and proposed changes to the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB). It is only appropriate that Congress consider updating one 

of the most important veterans’ benefits ever enacted. 

The Global War on Terror has produced a large number of men and women that 

have served honorably and have since been discharged from the military and become veterans. In the case of many National Guard and Reservists, they may have 

a career or job to return to. The future for active duty servicemembers leaving the 

military is not so certain. Many of these men and women plan to use earned MGIB 

benefits to begin or continue their college education, or pursue other career paths. 

The expansion of the eligible programs will increase the opportunities for these veterans. The MGIB has been modified by Congress through the years to increase its value 

for the veteran and widen the scope of programs it can be used for. As the job market changes, new training programs to accommodate the job market must be available. With improvements to the MGIB, Congress has made it easier for veterans to 

pursue a traditional college degree. However, we also realize that this traditional 

path for this benefit may not be the case for many veterans. 


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The accelerated payment program was enacted in 2003 to address opportunities 

for veterans in the high-tech industry. Intensive courses condensed into a few 

months offer an excellent opportunity for veterans to be certified in advanced levels 

of information technology knowledge. In less than the standard 36 months of normal 

classroom study, a student is ready to enter the workplace. Using this accelerated 

pay initiative for other career programs would give the veteran more options. Using 

the funds that the veteran partially paid into to obtain training for a career path 

the veteran has chosen seems to be a reasonable allowance. 

Similarly, veterans with significant disabilities and a sufficient work history will 

qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance [SSDI]. Such veterans, like anyone 

on SSDI, will receive a Ticket to Work voucher under Social Security’s Ticket to 

Work program. Using their Ticket, veterans can go to a state vocational rehabilitation agency or a private employment training/counseling provider of their choice 

[called an Employment Network or EN] and use the services of that agency or provider to obtain a job that will enable them to leave the SSDI benefit rolls. A requirement of the Ticket to Work program, however, is that a Ticket-holder must make 

‘‘timely progress’’ toward his or her vocational goal in order for the EN to receive 

payment from the Social Security Administration. During the first 24 months after 

placing a Ticket with a provider, the beneficiary is not expected to work but must 

be actively participating in the employment plan developed with his/her EN. 

Perhaps a veteran on SSDI could use accelerated MGIB benefits in tandem with 

an employment network job training program that would take place during the first 

24 months of Ticket program participation. Such an arrangement would also likely 

make the veteran an appealing client for any Employment Network since the GI Bill 

would be paying the costs of that training rather than the EN itself. 

PVA also supports the expansion of MGIB Chapter 30 benefits beyond the scope 

of the active duty to include National Guard and Reserve servicemembers in an accelerated payment educational plan. Never before has our Nation asked so much 

from this group of servicemembers. It is only right that they should have the same 

opportunities as many of their full-time active duty counterparts. Some may choose 

this accelerated payment option for the MGIB for a career change after their active 

duty commitment ends. They should not be deprived of this option. 

The Independent Budget for FY 2008 also includes some discussion about the concept for a Total Force Montgomery GI Bill to match the operational integration of 

active duty, National Guard, and Reserve servicemembers. Although the Reserve 

MGIB worked well prior to September 11, 2001, that system does not match up appropriately with the now large and sustained activations of Guard and Reserve 

units following that time. Congress did attempt to correct this benefit gap by authorizing a Reserve Title 10 MGIB program for Reservist who were mobilized for 

more than 90 days for a contingency operation; however, funding challenges and difficulty correlating the program to the original benefit and active duty benefits has 

delayed its implementation. 

As stated directly in The Independent Budget, ‘‘The nation’s total armed forces 

need a MGIB that supports recruitment and retention, readjustment to civilian life, 

proportionality of benefits for service rendered, and ease of administration.’’ With 

this thought in mind, The Independent Budget for FY 2008 recommends the creation 

of the Total Force MGIB. 

As explained in The Independent Budget, the Total Force MGIB has two broad 

concepts. The first would allow all active duty and reserve MGIB benefits to be organized in Title 38. The second would allow MGIB benefit levels to be simplified 

according to the military service performed. 

These changes could be best achieved by integrating National Guard and Reserve 

MGIB benefits with active duty. In accordance with the recommendations of The 

Independent Budget, the benefit rates could then be structured as follows: 

Tier one—similar to the current Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty 3-year rate—

would be provided to all who enlist in the active armed forces. Service entrants 

would receive 36 months of benefits at the active duty rate. 

Tier two would be for nonprior service direct entry in the Selected Reserve 

(SELRES) for 6 years. Benefits would be proportional to the active duty rate. Historically, Selected Reserve benefits have been 47 to 48 percent of active duty benefits. 

Tier three would be for members of the Ready Reserve who are activated for at 

least 90 days. They would receive 1 month of benefits for each month of activation, 

up to a total of 36 months, at the active duty rate. 

Finally, the 10-year eligibility period for use of education benefits would apply for 

active duty servicemembers as well as service Members who earn benefits under 

Tier three mentioned above. A Selected Reserves servicemember would be eligible 


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to use his or her benefits while still serving in SELRES and for up to 10 years following separation for disability or qualifying retirement. 

As Congress increases the training opportunities for the veterans they must insure that new programs meet the approval of State Approving Agencies (SAAs). 

SAAs operate through a state’s department of education or postsecondary education 

commission. They review and evaluate, for approval in each state, the programs of 

education that are offered by educational institutions, including universities, junior 

colleges, and other VA veterans’ educational assistance programs under the Montgomery GI Bill. SAAs also approve employer sponsored on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs. 

PVA supports possible changes to the MGIB to broaden the scope of training 

available by participating in this benefit. Educational benefits are important in assisting the military in recruitment efforts. Those men and women who have chosen 

to serve our country in uniform deserve every opportunity that is available to train 

for their next stage in life. 

Chairwoman Herseth and Members of the Subcommittee, PVA stands ready to assist you in any way to improve education benefits, particularly through the MGIB, 

for all servicemembers—active duty, National Guard, and Reserves. We look forward to addressing any legislation proposals you might have. 

PVA would like to thank the Subcommittee once again for allowing us to submit 

a statement. We would be happy to receive any questions that you might have. 

f 

The President’s High Growth Job Training Initiative 

Employment and Training Administration 

United States Department of Labor 

In remarks to operating engineers on Labor Day 2003, President Bush laid out 

his ground breaking approach for closing skills gaps: ‘‘The High Growth Job Training Initiative in this Administration is aiming to give workers the skills they need 

to realize their dreams. It’s a collaborative effort to help team up people with the 

jobs that are needed, to make sure that the changes in our economy don’t leave people behind.’’

This initiative represents the first step in a series of actions that the Department 

of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has taken to engage 

business, education and the workforce investment system to work together to develop solutions to the workforce challenges facing high growth industries. Fields like 

healthcare, information technology, and advanced manufacturing have jobs and 

solid career paths left open due to a lack of people qualified to fill them. The High 

Growth Job Training Initiative targets education and skills development resources 

toward helping workers gain the skills they need to build successful careers in these 

and other growing industries. 

To put this approach into action, ETA identified 14 sectors that fit within the following criteria: (1) they are projected to add substantial numbers of new jobs to the 

economy or affect the growth of other industries; or (2) they are existing or emerging 

businesses being transformed by technology and innovation requiring new skills sets 

for workers. The sectors include: 

• Advanced Manufacturing • Geospatial Technology 

• Aerospace • Healthcare 

• Automotive • Homeland Security 

• Biotechnology • Hospitality 

• Construction • Information Technology 

• Energy • Retail 

• Financial Services • Transportation 

The High Growth Job Training Initiative continues to invest in national models 

and demonstrations of workforce solutions in these sectors designed to achieve the 

following outcomes: 

• Targeted investment of workforce development resources and support for private and public sector partnerships to ensure the development of workers’ skills 

in occupations where industry has identified needs. 

• Increased integration of community and technical college efforts with business 

and the public workforce system activities to meet the skills training needs of 

high growth industries. 


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• Increased opportunities for employers to use apprenticeship training as skills 

development methodology, combining on-the-job training and academics, to ensure a pipeline of skilled workers. 

• Providing workers with paths to career enhancing opportunities in high growth 

occupations. 

By expanding the local workforce system’s capacity to be market-driven, responsive to local economic needs, and a contributor to the economic well-being of the 

community, the Employment and Training Administration is promoting workforce 

quality, enhanced productivity, and economic competitiveness. 

During 2006, the President’s High Growth Job Training Initiative’s evolution will 

continue along competitive lines established in 2005 with the healthcare and biotechnology sector competition. This year competitions are expected for talent development investments in the advanced manufacturing, construction, energy, and 

homeland security industry sectors. 

Æ 


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