I

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 731

To reduce the cost of operating the military service academies, to establish

a program of college scholarships to assist the education of students

in exchange for service in the Federal Government, and to increase

Montgomery GI Bill benefits.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 2, 1993

Mr. OWENS introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the

Committees on Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs

A BILL

To reduce the cost of operating the military service academies, to establish a program of college scholarships

to assist the education of students in exchange for service

in the Federal Government, and to increase Montgomery

GI Bill benefits.

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the

5 ‘‘Patriots of Peace Service Act of 1993’’.

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for

7 this Act is as follows:
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Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Findings.

Sec. 3. Purpose.

Sec. 4. Definitions.

TITLE I—REDUCTION IN THE COSTS OF OPERATING THE

MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES

Sec. 101. Findings.

Sec. 102. Reduction in the costs of operating the military service academies.

Sec. 103. Sense of Congress on use of savings.

TITLE II—PATRIOTS OF PEACE SCHOLARSHIPS

Sec. 201. Scholarship program established.

Sec. 202. Eligibility for selection as a National Security Scholar.

Sec. 203. Selection of National Security Scholars.

Sec. 204. Elements of scholarship.

Sec. 205. Scholarship contract.

Sec. 206. Required course of instruction.

Sec. 207. Information provided by the Secretary of Defense.

Sec. 208. Breach of contract.

TITLE III—MONTGOMERY GI BILL BENEFITS FOR ENLISTED

MEN AND WOMEN

Sec. 301. Elimination of contribution requirement.

Sec. 302. Increase in the amount of Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance

payments.

Sec. 303. Increase in number of educational assistance payments.

1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

2 The Congress finds the following:

3 (1) The access to a quality education is central

4 to the economic strength and national security of the

5 United States, and national security begins at

6 home—with an educated citizenry.

7 (2) Many secondary school students who choose

8 to apply for admission to one of the military service

9 academies or for a Reserve Officers Training Corps

10 scholarship do so because they lack the financial re11 sources to afford a quality college education rather

12 than out of a desire to enter the Armed Forces.
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1 (3) These students are very patriotic and would

2 willingly serve the United States in other ways of

3 value to themselves and to society.

4 (4) Many of these students would rather serve

5 their country in a nonmilitary capacity.

6 (5) There is a shortage of qualified college

7 graduates available to work for the Federal Govern8 ment.

9 (6) Many college graduates are unable to afford

10 to seek employment with the Federal Government

11 due to their student loan indebtedness resulting

12 from several years of college education.

13 (7) There should be an option for those stu14 dents who are willing to commit to a number of

15 years of nonmilitary government service to receive

16 an education comparable in quality to that available

17 through the military service academies.

18 SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

19 It is the purpose of this Act—

20 (1) to provide full scholarships and living ex21 penses to certain students to attend institutions of

22 higher learning as an alternative to attending a mili23 tary service academy;

24 (2) to provide these scholarships at the same or

25 lower cost to the Federal Government than providing
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1 educational assistance through a military service

2 academy; and

3 (3) to provide a guaranteed source of qualified

4 professionals to work for a specified number of years

5 in the service of the United States as a civilian em6 ployee of the Federal Government.

7 SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

8 For purposes of this Act:

9 (1) The term ‘‘Member of Congress’’ means a

10 United States Senator, a Member of the House of

11 Representatives, a Delegate to the House of Rep12 resentatives, or the Resident Commissioner from

13 Puerto Rico.

14 (2) The term ‘‘institution of higher learning’’

15 has the meaning given that term in section 3452(f)

16 of title 38, United States Code.

17 (3) The term ‘‘military service academy’’ means

18 the United States Military Academy, the United

19 States Naval Academy, or the United States Air

20 Force Academy.
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1 TITLE I—REDUCTION IN THE

2 COSTS OF OPERATING THE

3 MILITARY SERVICE ACAD4 EMIES

5 SEC. 101. FINDINGS.

6 The Congress finds the following:

7 (1) The average cost to the United States of

8 the attendance of a student at a military service

9 academy for four years is $210,000.

10 (2) The cost referred to in paragraph (1) in11 cludes the cost of pay and allowances, tuition, room,

12 board, books, laboratory fees, computers, clothing,

13 travel, equipment, recreation, music development,

14 military training, and other costs associated with

15 preparing the students to become well-educated offi16 cers in the Armed Forces.

17 (3) The cost of an education varies greatly be18 tween the three military service academies, and the

19 cost to the United States of providing an education

20 at the least expensive military service academy, the

21 United States Air Force Academy, is still two to

22 three times higher than the average cost to a stu23 dent to attend any other institution of higher learn24 ing in the United States.
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1 (4) The cost referred to in paragraph (1) is ex2 cessive and for the purpose of efficient use of Fed3 eral tax revenues must be reduced.

4 SEC. 102. REDUCTION IN THE COSTS OF OPERATING THE

5 MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES.

6 (a) LONG-TERM REDUCTIONS IN OPERATING

7 COSTS.—The Secretary of Defense is hereby required to

8 take such steps as may be necessary to reduce the costs

9 of providing an education at the United States Military

10 Academy, the United States Naval Academy, and the

11 United States Air Force Academy so that by January 1,

12 1995, the average cost per student of operating each mili13 tary service academy—

14 (1) is approximately equal; and

15 (2) is not more than 10 percent greater than

16 the average cost per nonacademy student, deter17 mined by the Secretary by averaging the cost per

18 student at the ten top-ranked institutions of higher

19 education in the United States, as selected by the

20 Secretary.

21 (b) FURTHER REDUCTIONS IN OPERATING COSTS.—

22 In addition to cost reductions required under subsection

23 (a), the Secretary of Defense shall reduce the operating

24 costs of the military service academies for each academic

25 year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act
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1 to the extent necessary to achieve a reduction in expendi2 tures for these military service academies for each year

3 that is equal to at least 50 percent of the cost for that

4 year of providing scholarships under title II of this Act.

5 (c) REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF CADETS AND MID6 SHIPMEN.—To help achieve the cost reductions required

7 by subsections (a) and (b), the Secretary of Defense may

8 reduce the number of appointments made to the military

9 service academies for classes entering these military serv10 ice academies after the date of the enactment of this Act

11 notwithstanding the authorized strength of the Corps of

12 Cadets of the United States Military Academy, the author13 ized number of midshipmen at the United States Naval

14 Academy, or the authorized strength of Air Force Cadets

15 at the United States Air Force Academy.

16 SEC. 103. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON USE OF SAVINGS.

17 It is the sense of the Congress that savings achieved

18 by the reduction in expenditures required by section 102

19 should be used to provide funds for the operation of the

20 scholarship program established under title II of this Act.

21 TITLE II—PATRIOTS OF PEACE

22 SCHOLARSHIPS

23 SEC. 201. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.

24 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense

25 shall establish a program of national security scholarships
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1 to assure an adequate supply of college graduates for civil2 ian employee positions with—

3 (1) the Department of Defense; and

4 (2) other Federal agencies involved in education

5 or other activities related to national security.

6 (b) NATIONAL SECURITY SCHOLARS.—Each recipi7 ent of a scholarship under this title shall be known as a

8 ‘‘National Security Scholar’’.

9 SEC. 202. ELIGIBILITY FOR SELECTION AS A NATIONAL SE10 CURITY SCHOLAR.

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—An individual shall be eligible for

12 selection as a National Security Scholar if such individ13 ual—

14 (1) is age 17 or over;

15 (2) has received a high school diploma or the

16 equivalent of a high school diploma;

17 (3) is a citizen of the United States or lawfully

18 admitted for permanent residence;

19 (4) is accepted for enrollment, or is enrolled, as

20 a full-time student in an institution of higher learn21 ing that offers a course of study described in section

22 206; and

23 (5) is nominated for selection as a National Se24 curity Scholar by a Member of Congress.
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1 (b) EXCEPTION.—An individual who, together with

2 the parents of the individual, has an adjusted income of

3 $50,000 or more for the year preceding application under

4 this title may not be selected as a National Security

5 Scholar.

6 SEC. 203. SELECTION OF NATIONAL SECURITY SCHOLARS.

7 (a) NOMINATION.—The Secretary shall select Na8 tional Security Scholars from individuals nominated by

9 Members of Congress.

10 (b) NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS.—

11 (1) FISCAL YEAR 1994.—During fiscal year

12 1994, the Secretary may award 2,700 four-year

13 scholarships under this title, such that each Member

14 of Congress may nominate five individuals for selec15 tion in that fiscal year.

16 (2) FISCAL YEAR 1995.—During fiscal year

17 1995, the Secretary may award 1,630 four-year

18 scholarships under this title, such that each Member

19 of Congress may nominate three individuals for se20 lection in that fiscal year.

21 (3) FISCAL YEAR 1996.—During fiscal year

22 1996, the Secretary may award 1,095 four-year

23 scholarships under this title, such that each Member

24 of Congress may nominate two individuals for selec25 tion in that fiscal year.
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1 SEC. 204. ELEMENTS OF SCHOLARSHIP.

2 (a) USE OF SCHOLARSHIP.—A National Security

3 Scholar may use a national security scholarship provided

4 under this title at any institution of higher learning offer5 ing a course of instruction described in section 206.

6 (b) CONTENT OF SCHOLARSHIP.—A national security

7 scholarship provided under this title shall consist of—

8 (1) a payment to the National Security Scholar,

9 or to an institution of higher learning on behalf of

10 the National Security Scholar, of an amount equal

11 to—

12 (A) the tuition of the National Security

13 Scholar in an institution of higher learning for

14 not to exceed four school years; and

15 (B) all other reasonable educational ex16 penses, including fees, books, and laboratory ex17 penses, incurred by the National Security

18 Scholar during such school years; and

19 (2) a payment to the National Security Scholar

20 of a stipend of $100 for each month of such school

21 year.

22 SEC. 205. SCHOLARSHIP CONTRACT.

23 (a) CONTRACT REQUIRED.—As a condition of receiv24 ing a scholarship under this title, each individual selected

25 as a National Security Scholar shall be required to sign
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1 a written contract (described in subsection (c)) with the

2 Secretary—

3 (1) to accept financial assistance provided

4 under this title to assist such individual attend and

5 graduate from an institution of higher learning; and

6 (2) immediately upon the completion of such

7 program of education, to serve for a total of six

8 years as a civilian employee of—

9 (A) the Department of Defense; or

10 (B) another Federal agency involved in

11 education or other activities related to national

12 security.

13 (b) PARENTAL CONSENT.—If an individual selected

14 as a National Security Scholar is a minor and has parents

15 or a guardian, the individual may sign the contract re16 ferred to in subsection (a) only with the consent of the

17 parents or guardian.

18 (c) ELEMENTS OF CONTRACT.—The written contract

19 between the Secretary and a National Security Scholar

20 shall contain an agreement that—

21 (1) subject to subsection (d), the Secretary

22 agrees—

23 (A) to provide a four-year national security

24 scholarship under this title;
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1 (B) to make summer employment opportu2 nities (including internship with Federal agen3 cies) available to the National Security Scholar

4 during the scholarship period; and

5 (C) to place (subject to the availability of

6 appropriated funds for the purpose) the Na7 tional Security Scholar as a civilian employee

8 of—

9 (i) the Department of Defense; or

10 (ii) another Federal agency involved

11 in education or other activities related to

12 national security, with the approval of the

13 Secretary of Defense and the head of the

14 Federal agency involved; and

15 (2) subject to subsection (d), the National Se16 curity Scholar agrees—

17 (A) to accept provision of such scholarship;

18 (B) to maintain enrollment in a program

19 of education in an institution of higher learning

20 until the participant completes the program;

21 (C) while enrolled in such program of edu22 cation, to maintain an acceptable level of aca23 demic standing (as determined under rules of

24 the Secretary) with the institution of higher

25 learning; and
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1 (D) to serve as a civilian employee of the

2 Department of Defense or another Federal

3 agency for a total of six years, as provided in

4 paragraph (1)(C).

5 (d) ASSISTANCE SUBJECT TO FUNDS.—The written

6 contract shall contain a provision that any financial obli7 gation of the United States arising out of a contract en8 tered into under this section and any obligation of the Na9 tional Security Scholar which is conditioned thereon, is

10 contingent upon funds being appropriated for scholarships

11 under this title.

12 (e) OTHER TERMS.—The written contract shall also

13 contain—

14 (1) a statement of the damages to which the

15 United States is entitled, under section 208 for the

16 breach of the contract; and

17 (2) such other statements of the rights and li18 abilities of the United States and of the National

19 Security Scholar, not inconsistent with the provi20 sions of this title.

21 SEC. 206. REQUIRED COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—As part of the agreement under

23 section 205, a National Security Scholar shall agree to

24 pursue a course of study, approved by the Secretary, de25 signed to educate the National Security Scholar in—
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1 (1) the complete workings of the Federal Gov2 ernment, including the executive, legislative, and ju3 dicial branches;

4 (2) the operations of the Department of De5 fense;

6 (3) the relationship of the Department of De7 fense with other Federal agencies, the Congress, and

8 the judicial branch; and

9 (4) the relationship of the Department of De10 fense with State and local governments.

11 (b) LENGTH.—The course of study required by sub12 section (a) shall last at least two semesters and shall in13 clude at least three credit hours (or its equivalent) of

14 study per semester. The course of study may also include

15 a six-month internship with the Department of Defense

16 or another Federal agency at the request of the Secretary

17 of Defense.

18 SEC. 207. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE SECRETARY OF

19 DEFENSE.

20 (a) RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES.—In disseminating

21 contract forms to individuals nominated for a scholarship

22 under this title, the Secretary shall include with such

23 forms a fair summary of the rights and liabilities of an

24 individual whose contract is accepted by the Secretary, in25 cluding a clear explanation of the damages to which the
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1 United States is entitled under section 208 in the case

2 of the breach of the contract.

3 (b) APPLICATION AND CONTRACT FORMS.—The ap4 plication form, contract form, and all other information

5 furnished by a Member of Congress or the Secretary under

6 this title shall be written in a manner calculated to be un7 derstood by the average individual applying for a scholar8 ship under this title.

9 (c) AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary shall make con10 tract forms available to individuals nominated for a schol11 arship under this title on a date sufficiently early to insure

12 that such individuals have adequate time to carefully re13 view and evaluate the information contained in such

14 forms.

15 SEC. 208. BREACH OF CONTRACT.

16 (a) GENERAL RULE.—If a National Security Scholar

17 fails to complete the educational requirements specified in

18 the agreement entered into under section 205 or, volun19 tarily or because of misconduct, fails to complete the term

20 of employment required under the agreement, the Na21 tional Security Scholar shall reimburse the United States

22 in an amount that bears the same ratio to the total cost

23 of the scholarship provided under this title as the unserved

24 portion of employment bears to the total period of employ25 ment required under the agreement.
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1 (b) NATURE OF OBLIGATION.—The obligation to re2 imburse the United States under an agreement under sec3 tion 205 is, for all purposes, a debt owing the United

4 States. A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 shall not

5 release a National Security Scholar from an obligation to

6 reimburse the United States required under the terms of

7 such an agreement if the final decree of the discharge in

8 bankruptcy is issued during the 15-year period beginning

9 on the date the National Security Scholar signs the agree10 ment.

11 (c) INTEREST.—Any amount owed by a National Se12 curity Scholar under subsection (a) to the United States

13 shall bear interest at the rate equal to the highest rate

14 being paid by the United States on the day on which the

15 reimbursement is determined to be due for securities hav16 ing maturities of ninety days or less and shall accrue from

17 the day on which the National Security Scholar is first

18 notified of the amount due to the United States as a reim19 bursement under this section.

20 (d) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (a) shall not apply if

21 the National Security Scholar terminates the agreement

22 entered into under section 205 and withdraws from the

23 scholarship program before the start of the third school

24 year covered by the scholarship.
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1 TITLE III—MONTGOMERY GI

2 BILL BENEFITS FOR EN3 LISTED MEN AND WOMEN

4 SEC. 301. ELIMINATION OF CONTRIBUTION REQUIREMENT.

5 Section 3011 of title 38, United States Code, is

6 amended—

7 (1) by striking out subsection (b);

8 (2) by striking out subsection (c)(1); and

9 (3) by redesignating subsection (c)(2) and sub10 section (d) as subsections (b) and (c), respectively.

11 SEC. 302. INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF MONTGOMERY GI

12 BILL EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS.

13 (a) Section 3015 of title 38, United States Code, is

14 amended—

15 (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking out ‘‘$300’’

16 and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘$500’’;

17 (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking out ‘‘$250’’

18 and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘$350’’; and

19 (3) by amending subsection (f) to read as fol20 lows:

21 ‘‘(f) Each of the rates established by or pursuant to

22 subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be increased on

23 April 1, 1994, and on April 1 of each year thereafter, by

24 a percentage that is equal to the percentage of the increase

25 in the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city
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1 average) published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for

2 the calendar year ending before the April 1 on which such

3 rate is to be increased.’’.

4 SEC. 303. INCREASE IN NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL ASSIST5 ANCE PAYMENTS.

6 Section 3013 of title 38, United States Code, is

7 amended by striking out ‘‘36’’ in subsections (a)(1) and

8 (d) and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘48’’.

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