I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3041
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the period during which 
a member of the Armed Forces may enroll for educational assistance 
under the Montgomery GI Bill. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 9, 2003
Mr. BILIRAKIS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed 
Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the period 
during which a member of the Armed Forces may enroll 
for educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill.
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 ‘‘Montgomery GI Bill 
Enrollment Extension Act’’.
SEC. 2. TWO-YEAR PERIOD FOR ENROLLMENT UNDER 
MONTGOMERY GI BILL. 
(a) THREE-YEAR ENLISTMENT.—(1) Subsection (b) 
of section 3011 of title 38, United States Code, is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘(b)(1) The basic pay of any individual described in 
subsection (a)(1)(A) who does not make an election under 
subsection (c)(1) shall be reduced by an equal monthly 
amount so that the total reduction of such basic pay 
equals $1,200. The individual shall designate, in a form 
and manner determined by the Secretary concerned, a 
number of consecutive months (not to exceed twelve) to 
have such reductions in basic pay apply. 
‘‘(2)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), reductions in 
basic pay under paragraph (1) may only occur during the 
period referred to in the second sentence of subsection 
(c)(1). 
‘‘(B) In the case of an individual who is discharged 
or released from active duty in accordance with the provi-
sions of this section before the aggregate reductions in 
basic pay of the individual equal $1,200, the Secretary 
shall collect from the individual an amount equal to the 
difference between $1,200 and the total amount of reduc-
tions under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) Any amount by which the basic pay of an indi-
vidual is reduced under this chapter, or which the Sec-
retary collects under paragraph (2)(B), shall revert to the 
Treasury and shall not, for purposes of any Federal law, 
be considered to have been received by or to be within the 
control of such individual.’’. 
(2) The second sentence of subsection (c)(1) of such 
section is amended to read as follows: ‘‘Any such election 
may be made at any time during the period that begins 
on the date the individual initially enters on active duty 
as a member of the Armed Forces and ends on the earlier 
of the date that is two years after such date or the date 
of the individual’s discharge or release from active duty 
in accordance with the provisions of this section.’’. 
(b) TWO-YEAR ENLISTMENT.—(1) Subsection (c) of 
section 3012 of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(c)(1) The basic pay of any individual described in 
subsection (a)(1)(A) who does not make an election under 
subsection (d)(1) shall be reduced by an equal monthly 
amount so that the total reduction of such basic pay 
equals $1,200. The individual shall designate, in a form 
and manner determined by the Secretary concerned, a 
number of consecutive months (not to exceed twelve) to 
have such reductions in basic pay apply. 
‘‘(2)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), reductions in 
basic pay under paragraph (1) may only occur during the
period referred to in the second sentence of subsection 
(d)(1). 
‘‘(B) In the case of an individual who is discharged 
or released from active duty in accordance with the provi-
sions of this section before the aggregate reductions in 
basic pay of the individual equal $1,200, the Secretary 
shall collect from the individual an amount equal to the 
difference between $1,200 and the total amount of reduc-
tions under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) Any amount by which the basic pay of an indi-
vidual is reduced under this chapter, or which the Sec-
retary collects under paragraph (2)(B), shall revert to the 
Treasury and shall not, for purposes of any Federal law, 
be considered to have been received by or to be within the 
control of such individual.’’. 
(2) The second sentence of subsection (d)(1) of such 
section is amended to read as follows: ‘‘Any such election 
may be made at any time during the period that begins 
on the date the individual initially enters on active duty 
as a member of the Armed Forces and ends on the earlier 
of the date that is two years after such date or the date 
of the individual’s discharge or release from active duty 
in accordance with the provisions of this section.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to individuals who first become
members of the Armed Forces or first enter on active duty 
as members of the Armed Forces on or after the date of 
the enactment of this Act.
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