I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1212
To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of basic 
educational assistance for veterans under the Montgomery GI Bill, and 
to eliminate reductions of basic pay for eligibility for such assistance. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 11, 2003
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. EVANS, Mr. BROWN of South 
Carolina, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, and Mr. MICHAUD) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in 
addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the 
amount of basic educational assistance for veterans 
under the Montgomery GI Bill, and to eliminate reduc-
tions of basic pay for eligibility for such assistance.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans’ Education 
Affordability Act’’.
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF BASIC EDUCATIONAL AS-
SISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Subsection (a)(1) of section 
3015 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(A) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as sub-
paragraph (E); 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) for months occurring during fiscal 
year 2005, $1,200; and’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (C). 
(2) Subsection (b)(1) of such section is amended—
(A) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as sub-
paragraph (E); 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) for months occurring during fiscal 
year 2005, $975; and’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (C). 
(b) NO
CPI ADJUSTMENT
FOR
FISCAL
YEAR 
2005.—Subsection (h) of such section 3015 shall not 
apply to rates of basic educational assistance paid under 
such section during fiscal year 2005.
SEC. 3. ELIMINATION OF REDUCTIONS OF BASIC PAY. 
(a) REPEALS.—Sections 3011(b) and 3012(c) of title 
38, United States Code, are each amended by adding at 
the end the following new sentence: ‘‘This subsection shall 
cease to have effect beginning on the first day of the first 
month that begins after the date of the enactment of the 
Montgomery GI Bill Enhancement Act of 2003.’’. 
(b) TERMINATION OF REDUCTIONS IN PROGRESS.—
Any reduction in the basic pay of an individual referred 
to in section 3011(b) of title 38, United States Code, by 
reason of such section 3011(b), or of any individual re-
ferred to in section 3012(c) of such title by reason of such 
section 3012(c), as of the date of the enactment of this 
Act shall cease commencing with the first month begin-
ning after such date, and any obligation of such individual 
under such section 3011(b) or 3012(c), as the case may 
be, as of the day before such date shall be deemed to be 
fully satisfied as of such date. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3034(e)(1) 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended in the second 
sentence by striking ‘‘as soon as practicable’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘such additional times’’ and inserting ‘‘at 
such times’’.
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