This page contains bills sponsored by incumbent Senators who are running for re-election in 2008, plus House incumbents running for Senate in 2008. Bill sponsorships indicate the topics that legislators are most interested in, and spend the most time on. These bills are selected as the "signature issue" that each legislator focused on.

08-S2938 on Apr 29, 2008

Enhancement of Recruitment, Retention, and Readjustment Through Education Act of 2008: to develop additional programs to enable members of the Armed Forces to attain a bachelor's degree while pursuing a military career.
• Increases rates of educational assistance: (1) under the Montgomery GI Bill; (2) for members of the Selected Reserve.
• Provides an annual stipend for individuals receiving basic educational assistance and pursuing a program of education at an approved institution of higher education.
• Allows a member who has completed six years of service to transfer to one or more dependents any unused portion of the member's educational assistance entitlement.
• Authorizes a member on active duty & entitled to basic educational assistance to use all or a portion thereof to repay any outstanding federal student loan.
• Makes eligible for enrollment under the Montgomery GI Bill certain retired personnel originally enrolled in the veterans' educational assistance program.

1. The World War II-era GI Bill assisted almost 8,000,000 members of the Armed Forces in readjusting to civilian life after completing their service to the nation.
2. The establishment of the All Volunteer Force in 1973 has produced highly professional Armed Forces.
3. The Sonny Montgomery GI Bill was enacted in 1984 to sustain the All Volunteer Force by providing educational benefits to aid in the recruitment and retention of highly qualified personnel.
4. The All Volunteer Force depends for its effectiveness and vitality on successful recruiting of highly capable men and women.
5. The achievement of educational goals, including obtaining the means to a college degree, has traditionally been a key reason for volunteering for service in the Armed Forces.

• Topic: Homeland Security
• Headline: Improve educational assistance for veterans
• Headline 2: Improve educational assistance for veterans
• Key for participation codes:
• Sponsorships: p=sponsored; o=co-sponsored; s=signed
• Memberships: c=chair; m=member; e=endorsed; f=profiled; s=scored
• Resolutions: i=introduced; w=wrote; a=adopted
• Cases: w=wrote; j=joined; d=dissented; c=concurred