Bill Would Provide Education Benefits to Spouses

The Senate version of the 2009 Defense Authorization Bill contains a provision that would help military spouses pursue college degrees and other academic or vocational training. Under the measure, spouses could use $6,000 provided by the Defense Department to help defray costs over a two-year period of a one-time change to a career that could easily be transferred to a new location during permanent-change-of-station (PCS) moves. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that 16,500 spouses would receive roughly $2,400 during the program’s first year. The program would grow over time, CBO estimates, to benefit more than 60,000 spouses a year.