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House lawmakers will introduce legislation Thursday to secure college aid for reservists and reimburse veterans whose schools unexpectedly close, as well as do away with a 15-year time limit for veterans to use education benefits – changes that together create the largest expansion of veterans’ education benefits since the Post-9/11 GI Bill was created nearly a decade ago.
The legislation represents an initial deal reached between House Republicans and Democrats, encouraged by veterans organizations that acted behind-the-scenes the past several weeks to reignite support for it. Details were obtained by Stars and Stripes ahead of the Thursday rollout.
Ending the 15-year time limit for veterans to use their education benefits marks a shift from the GI Bill as a generational benefit to establishing it as “forever,” said Will Hubbard, vice president of Student Veterans of America.
“All arrows are pointing to us getting this done,” he said. “There’s every indication this is moving, and moving quickly.”
Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the lead sponsor on the bill, will schedule a hearing on it next week, Hubbard said. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., the ranking Democrat on the committee, is a co-sponsor.
The expansion is estimated to cost approximately $3 billion.
“This bill... would launch a new era for all who have honorably served in uniform,” American Legion National Commander Charles Schmidt said in a statement. “It would close current gaps in the existing Post-9/11 GI Bill and guarantee that veterans have access to their hard-earned GI Bill benefits beyond the current 15-year time limit.”
https://www.stripes.com/news/vetera...uick-action-in-congress-1.477772#.WWg4VpWWwqT
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Excellent!
The legislation represents an initial deal reached between House Republicans and Democrats, encouraged by veterans organizations that acted behind-the-scenes the past several weeks to reignite support for it. Details were obtained by Stars and Stripes ahead of the Thursday rollout.
Ending the 15-year time limit for veterans to use their education benefits marks a shift from the GI Bill as a generational benefit to establishing it as “forever,” said Will Hubbard, vice president of Student Veterans of America.
“All arrows are pointing to us getting this done,” he said. “There’s every indication this is moving, and moving quickly.”
Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the lead sponsor on the bill, will schedule a hearing on it next week, Hubbard said. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., the ranking Democrat on the committee, is a co-sponsor.
The expansion is estimated to cost approximately $3 billion.
“This bill... would launch a new era for all who have honorably served in uniform,” American Legion National Commander Charles Schmidt said in a statement. “It would close current gaps in the existing Post-9/11 GI Bill and guarantee that veterans have access to their hard-earned GI Bill benefits beyond the current 15-year time limit.”
https://www.stripes.com/news/vetera...uick-action-in-congress-1.477772#.WWg4VpWWwqT
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Excellent!
