Statement by Commissioner of Education Earl James McGrath to the Veterans' Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives

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FDR L SECURITY AG CY office of Education Tashington 25, D.C. ST I am Earl J. ,ccrath, Commissioner of Education, Office of ducation, Federal Security Agency. I am pleased to respond to the invitation of this Committee, to discuss the educational aspects of the proposal to provide educational benefits to veterans of the armed forces who have served recently or are serving now. As you know, the Office of L'ducation has had no direct or indirect share in administering the Servicemen's Readjustment Act. Nor have we been called on to any great extent for services advisory to the adminis- tration of the program. For these reasons, it would be presumptuous for me to volunteer opinions on the details of the present program or, at this time, to comment specifically on the various bills proposing extension of the Act. 1 will confine my statement to a brief summary of certain general principles which the Congress may wish to consicer as it shapes new legislation to provide educational benefits to veterans. First, there is no question as to the genuine value of the educa- tional feature of the "G.1. Bill of Rights, 11 particularly as the benefits provided have been used in institutions of higher education and in other well-established educational agencies. The proposal to extend somewhat similar educational benefits to men and women leaving the armed services now and in subsequent years should meet with general approval. *Before the Veterans Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, House Office Building, "Tashington, j. C., February 19, 1952, by Earl J. HcGrath, U.G. Commissioner of Liducation, ffice of nucaticn, l'ederal Security Agency,