Bill would let vets take tech courses at federal expense

If Sen. John (Jay) Rockefeller, D-W.Va., has his way, veterans who want to take courses to prepare for certification exams offered by technology companies like Microsoft and Cisco Systems will be able to ask the federal government to foot a large part of the bill.

Rockefeller, D-W.Va., introduced a bill last Friday that would allow veterans to use the educational benefits they receive through the Montgomery G.I. Bill to cover the costs of short-term technical training.

The benefits were designed to pay for traditional college degrees, but Rockefeller's measure, S. 1088, would alter the program to accelerate payments to veterans who enroll in tech courses that last only weeks or months.

President Clinton signed a law in November 2000 that expanded the G.I. bill to pay for the actual certification exams, and Rockefeller said his legislation would "take the next logical step and pay for the courses themselves."