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FPCD-81-45 1 (1981-09-17)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabckh0001 and id is 1 raw text is: A, *,s COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES WASHINGTON D.C. 20548 B-204142 SEPTEMBER 17, 1981 The Honorable G. V. Montgomery Chairman, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs House of Representatives 116379 Dear Mr. Chairmans Subject: Alternatives for Funding a GI Bill (FPCD-81-45) This responds to your request of April 8, 1981, that we provide our views on alternative funding for a GI Bill. As ar- ranged with your office, we are combining your request with that of Chairman Robert Edgar's Subcommittee on Education, Training, and Employment (Mar. 20, 1981). As you requested, we did not obtain agency comments. Since the end of World War II, millions of Gs were provided financial assistance for postsecondary education through several 01 Bills. The purpose of these benefits was to assist the GI's transition into a civilian career. The last GI Bill for Vietnam- era veterans expired in 1976. Although it was not the intent of the GI Bill, during the early years of the All-Volunteer Force the military apparently used it as a recruiting tool to attract high-quality recruits capable of scoring in the top categories of the armed services entrance exams. Since its expiration, there has been considerable discussion on the need to reinstitute a 01 Bill, and the Congress is currently cQnsidering this option. The Congress has recently provided substantial support for postsecondary education assistance through the Department of Education's (ED's) student assistance programs. Since 1974, ap- propriations for these programs have increased from $1.6 billion to $5.8 billion in 1981. Enough data exists to suggest that the high-quality high-school graduates the military is seeking to recruit are currently opting for a postsecondary education-- often funded by the Federal Government. This report suggests that using a portion of ED's student assistance appropriations to finance a GI Bill would reduce the impact on the Federal bud- get and could, at least partially, improve the armed services' ability to attract the high-quality youth they need. (961143) JZ// .5-6p