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Catholic War Veterans Positions
On Pending Legislation
HR 62 - CHANGE VETERANS DAY TO ELECTION DAY
Representative Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) has introduced HR 62 which states:
To amend title 5, United States Code, to establish election day in
Presidential election years as a legal public holiday, by moving the legal
public holiday known as Veterans Day to election day in such years and for
other purposes."
"SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING TREATMENT OF DAYS BY PRIVATE EMPLOYERS."
"It is the sense of Comgress that private employers in the United States should
give their employees a day off on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in
November 2004 and each fourth year thereafter to enable the employees to cast
votes in the Presidential and other elections held on that day."
The Bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organizations.
The Catholic War Veterans strongly opposes this "Sense of
Congress" legislation. While this bill as introduced is not one that would
normally be enacted into law, many times it is a "trial ballon" to see if it
can muster support. It is the feeling of the National Board that the meaning
and the purpose of Veterans Day should never be changed or altered in any way.
HR 320 - MONTGOMERY GI BILL
This legislation, which has more than 90 members of Congress on record in
support, makes major improvements in the existing Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)
education readjustment benefits.
This bill will provide important needed improvements in the current MGIB and is
a key recruiting tool for the armed services and an essential readjustment
benefit once service men and women return to civilian life.
HR 320 largely mirrors the recommendations of a 1999 Congressional Commission
on Transition benefits for Veterans. The new Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
Anthony Principi, as charman of the commission, advocated for an enhanced MGIB
program, nearly identical to this legislation. Principi, in the Commission's
final report, recommended an education benefit much like the original GI Bill,
providing full tuition and books for those enlisting for four years or more
and a substantial increase in educational assistance for those with a shorter
time period.
The original GI Bill is regarded as the greatest social program ever enacted by
Congress. Millions of America's veterans who might not have been able to afford
a college education received a college degree from some of the country's top
institutions of higher learning.
The main sponsors of this legislation are two House members who have both
received their college education using the GI Bill benefits. They are Representatives
Lane Evans (D-IL) and John D. Dingell (D-MI). The bill is known on the House
floor as the Evans-Dingell bill.
Evans stated in introducing the legislation "Comparing this recent estimate of
the surplus to an estimated ten-year cost for HR 320 of $5.7 billion, it is clear
we can make this investment in America's future now. At a cost of one tenth of one
percent of the current budget surplus projections, America cannot afford to fail
to make this investment."
The Bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Benefits.
The Catholic War Veterans strongly supports this legislation.
It is the feeling of the National Board that the orignal GI Bill enacted during
WWII was one of the main reasons that this country led the world in the level
of its citizens acquiring college degrees. The cost has been repaid by
increased income taxes received due to the higher average earnings of college educated
vs non-college educated Americans. Also, the children of these veterans were
able to pursue higher education at a greater level than would have been possible
if their veteran parents had not received these benefits.
The Catholic War Veterans suggest and urge that you contact your local
Congressional Representative (Congressman/woman) to express YOUR views
on these pending legislation items.
Copyright © 2001-2002 Catholic War Veterans of the U.S.A.
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Updated: 17 April 2002