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Defense bill improves reservist benefits Thursday, Dec 13, 2007 By Aaron Sadler Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - Reservists and National Guard members who serve alongside active duty soldiers would earn substantially the same educational benefits in legislation expected to clear Congress this week. The provision in a broad defense spending bill marks a victory for Arkansas lawmakers who pushed the last two years for changes to the GI Bill. Reservists and Guard troops would have up to 10 years after leaving the military to use the educational benefits they accrue while on active duty. Unlike their active duty counterparts, reservists' benefits currently run out when their service ends. The provision survived negotiations between the House and Senate and was contained in a conference report that approved in the House on Wednesday. Senate passage of the $696 billion bill is expected before the end of the year. "As our nation has turned to our citizen soldiers in increasing and unprecedented numbers, it is only fair that their benefits reflect their commitment," said Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark. Lincoln and Rep. Vic Snyder, D-Little Rock, in the House championed the so-called "Total Force GI Bill." The Pentagon opposed the bill, citing cost and its possible effect on Guard and reserve retention. Pentagon officials see the current use-or-lose educational benefit as an incentive for reservists to stay in service. Lincoln said Wednesday the change would cost $165 million over five years. A Congressional Budget Office estimate put the price tag at $230 million over a decade. Another piece of the Arkansas lawmakers' proposal would move administration of reserve and Guard benefits from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The conference report authorized a one-year feasibility study on the transfer of administrative duties. Having two agencies administer GI Bill benefits lead to a discrepancy in payments, said proponents of the change. In 1985, reserve benefits paid 47 cents to the dollar compared to active duty. Now, it's 18 cents less on average. About 40 military, veterans and higher education groups supported Lincoln and Snyder's legislation. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, was a co-sponsor. Another Boozman bill, to improve care of troops who suffer eye trauma in combat, also was included in the defense bill. Boozman's legislation creates a center within the Department of Defense that would work to prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate troop eye injuries. Boozman is the only optometrist in Congress. Meanwhile, Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., on Wednesday lauded two other provisions of the defense bill, including one that extends rest time for active duty troops. Pryor sponsored the measure to increase from 15 days to 20 days the amount of break time for soldiers on a 15-month deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. In addition, Pryor said maintaining the military's Joint Cargo Aircraft program could result in jobs for central Arkansas. The Joint Cargo Aircraft, a venture of both the Army and Air Force, would be similar to a C-130. Pryor said the aircraft could be housed at the Little Rock Air Force Base, where C-130s are already located, or at Camp Robinson in Pulaski County. |
