Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 3.djvu/399

 PUBLIC LAW 106-398—APPENDIX 114 STAT. 1654A-357 conditions of the cooperative agreement, which can only be amended by agreement of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust, and the Secretary of the Interior. TITLE XVI~GI BILL EDUCATIONAL AS- SISTANCE AND VETERANS CLAIMS AS- SISTANCE SUBTITLE A—VETERANS EDUCATION BENEFITS Sec. 1601. Additional opportunity for certain VEAP participants to enroll in basic educational assistance under Montgomery GI Bill. Sec. 1602. Modification of authority to pay tuition for off-duty training and education. SUBTITLE B—^VETERANS CLAIMS ASSISTANCE Sec. 1611. Clarification of Department of Veterans Affairs duty to assist. Subtitle A—Veterans Education Benefits SEC. 1601. ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR CERTAIN VEAP PARTICI- PANTS TO ENROLL IN BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER MONTGOMERY GI BILL. (a) SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD.—Section 3018C of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: "(e)(1) A qualified individual (described in paragraph (2)) may make an irrevocable election under this subsection, during the one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this subsection, to become entitled to basic educational assistance under this chapter. Such an election shall be made in the same manner as elections made under subsection (a)(5). "(2) A qualified individual referred to in paragraph (1) is an individual who meets each of the following requirements: "(A) The individual was a participant in the educational benefits program under chapter 32 of this title on or before October 9, 1996. "(B) The individual has continuously served on active duty since October 9, 1996 (excluding the periods referred to in section 3202(1)(C) of this title), through at least April, 1, 2000. "(C) The individual meets the requirements of subsection (a)(3). "(D) The individual, when discharged or released from active duty, is discharged or released therefrom with an honorable discharge. "(3)(A) Subject to the succeeding provisions of this paragraph, with respect to a qualified individual who makes an election under paragraph (1) to become entitled to basic education assistance under this chapter— "(i) the basic pay of the qualified individual shall be reduced (in a manner determined by the Secretary concerned) until the total amount by which such basic pay is reduced is $2,700; and "(ii) to the extent that basic pay is not so reduced before the qualified individual's discharge or release from active duty

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