Last month, Rep. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico proposed amending Title 38, Chapter 33 of the United States Code, which details the benefits of the of the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

Currently, the Post 9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of cumulative service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals honorably discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. Approved training under the Bill includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, as well as vocational or technical training, offered at an institution of higher learning that has already been approved for GI Bill benefits; tutorial assistance, licensing and certification test fees are also approved for reimbursement under the Post- 9/11 GI Bill. Tuition is paid based upon the highest in-state tuition charged within the state where the school is located.

The biggest difference between the current bill and the proposed amended rules has to do with the servicemember's ability to transfer benefits to spouses and children. Presently, educational benefits can only transferred after the active duty or reservist servicemember has served for six years and upon their agreement to serve an additional four years.

The amended rules would allow a servicemember who qualifies for the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to transfer them to a child or spouse any time between reaching their 10-year service mark and within 10 years of separating from the military.

Furthermore, while a servicemember who has separated or retired is not eligible to apply for the transfer of benefits, a transfer that was approved while they were active will be allowed.

The proposed revision to the bill, listed as House Resolution 6336, which was presented to the House of Representatives on Sept. 29, has since been assigned to the House Veteran Affairs Committee.

The committee will review the proposed changes following the election-recess and will report on it to the House; following that the House and the Senate will vote on the bill before it reaches the president's desk. At this time, there is no financial source earmarked to pay for the expansion of the bill. To track the bill's progress, visit www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-6336.