G.I. Advanced Education in Science and Technology Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly stipend to each individual who is entitled to veterans' basic educational assistance and is pursuing full-time a doctoral degree in the physical or natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, or other scientific or technology disciplines. Allows such payment in addition to any other authorized Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance.
Makes such payment $1,200 a month (adjusted for inflation for fiscal years after 2005) for up to 60 months. Requires that such payments be disregarded by an institution of higher learning when determining any financial assistance that may be available to such doctoral candidate.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5023 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5023
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the payment of
stipends to veterans who pursue doctoral degrees in science or
technology.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 7, 2004
Mr. Sweeney introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the payment of
stipends to veterans who pursue doctoral degrees in science or
technology.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``G.I. Advanced Education in Science
and Technology Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The United States is starting to lose dominance in
science and technology.
(2) Increasingly the mothers and fathers of scientific and
technological invention are not American, and the number of new
doctorates in the sciences, and the number of doctoral students
from other countries staying in the United States, are on the
decline.
(3) This decline has serious implications for jobs,
industry, and national security in the United States.
(4) Shortages in the science and technology base of the
United States will be addressed, in part, by creating a
scientific and technology doctoral study program in math,
science, engineering, and technology for veterans.
SEC. 3. STIPENDS FOR PURSUIT OF DOCTORAL DEGREES IN SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY.
(a) In General.--Chapter 30 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter:
``SUBCHAPTER V--STIPENDS FOR VETERANS PURSUING DOCTORAL DEGREES IN
SCIENCE OR TECHNOLOGY
``Sec. 3041. Stipend for pursuit of certain doctoral degrees
``(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations
for such purpose, the Secretary shall pay a monthly stipend to each
eligible doctoral candidate under this subchapter for each month that
the candidate is pursuing full-time a doctoral degree in the physical
or natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, or other scientific or
technology disciplines.
``(b) Eligible Doctoral Candidates Defined.--In this subchapter,
the term `eligible doctoral candidate' means an individual who meets
the following requirements:
``(1) The individual meets the requirements that apply
under section 3011 for entitlement to basic educational
assistance under subchapter II of this title, other than
requirement under subsection (c) of such section 3011 (relating
to reductions in basic pay).
``(2) The individual is pursuing full-time a doctoral
degree in the physical or natural sciences, engineering,
mathematics, or other scientific or technology disciplines,
after having completed a bachelor's degree program in any
academic discipline at an institution of higher education.
``(c) Relation to Basic Montgomery GI Bill Educational
Assistance.--Payment of educational assistance under this subchapter is
in addition to payment of educational assistance under subchapter II or
III of this chapter.
``Sec. 3042. Duration of payments
``Payments of stipends under section 3041 of this title to an
eligible doctoral candidate may be made for a period not to exceed a
total of 60 months.
``Sec. 3043. Amount of stipend
``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary shall
pay to an eligible doctoral candidate pursuing a course at an
institution of higher learning leading to a doctoral degree referred to
in section 3041(a) of this title at the monthly rate of $1,200.
``(b) Adjustment for Inflation.--With respect to any fiscal year
beginning after fiscal year 2005, the Secretary shall provide a
percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) in the rate payable
under subsection (a) equal to the percentage by which--
``(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States
city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30
preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the
increase is made, exceeds
``(2) such Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period
preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1).
``(c) Disregard of Stipend Amount in Determination of Assistance
From Institution of Higher Learning.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, an institution of higher learning may not take into
account payments made to an eligible doctoral candidate under section
3041 of this title in determining the amount of financial assistance
(such as stipends and tuition remittance) the institution would
otherwise provide to the eligible doctoral candidate.
``Sec. 3044. Requirements
``Payments of stipends under section 3041 of this title to an
eligible doctoral candidate may be made only insofar as the eligible
doctoral candidate--
``(1) has been accepted into an accredited doctoral program
at an institution of higher learning;
``(2) provides annual documentation to the Secretary of
full-time matriculation in the doctoral program; and
``(3) maintains good academic standing.
``Sec. 3045. Time limitation for payment of stipends
``The period during which the Secretary may make payments of
stipends under section 3041 of this title to an eligible doctoral
candidate under this subchapter expires at the end of the 10-year
period beginning on the date on which the eligible doctoral candidate
first begins pursuing full-time such doctoral degree.
``Sec. 3046. Annual authorization of appropriations
``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry
out this subchapter for each fiscal year, beginning with fiscal year
2005, $14,900,000.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 3011 of such title is
amended in subsection (f)(1) and (g) by striking ``chapter'' each place
it appears and inserting ``subchapter''.
(2) Section 3018A(a) of such title is amended by striking
``education assistance under this chapter'' and inserting ``educational
assistance under this subchapter''.
(3) Section 3018B of such title is amended by striking ``education
assistance under this chapter'' each place it appears and inserting
``educational assistance under this subchapter''.
(4) Section 3018C of such title is amended by striking
``educational assistance under this chapter'' each place it appears and
inserting ``educational assistance under this subchapter''.
(5) Section 3019 of such title is amended by striking ``chapter''
each place it appears and inserting ``subchapter''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 30 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following new items:
``subchapter v--stipends for veterans pursuing doctoral degrees in
science or technology
``3041. Stipend for pursuit of certain doctoral degrees.
``3042. Duration of payments.
``3043. Amount of stipend.
``3044. Requirements.
``3045. Time limitation for payment of stipends.
``3046. Annual authorization of appropriations.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Benefits.
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