The U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 18 passed legislation proposed by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) that would expand eligibility for G.I. Bill benefits for United States military veterans who are students.
The measure was included as part of a larger legislative package approved by the House, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, H.R. 8371, which the U.S. Senate received for consideration on Nov. 19.
“America’s veterans have earned every opportunity to succeed, and we owe it to them to protect the benefits they’ve worked so hard for,” Rep. Buchanan said. “My bill will require the VA to provide much-needed assistance to our student veterans and ensure they are able to continue their education without any further unnecessary barriers.”
The VETS Credit Act 2.0, H.R. 4850, which Rep. Buchanan sponsored in July 2023, specifically would amend U.S. Code to provide for a retroactive effective date of law regarding charge to entitlement to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational assistance for individuals who do not transfer credits from certain closed or disapproved programs of education, according to the bill’s text.
H.R. 4850 expands upon a proposal from Rep. Buchanan that became law during the previous session of Congress entitled the Veterans Eligible to Transfer School (VETS) Credit Act, which required the VA to work with students and explain the school credit transfer process and to provide them with a certificate of eligibility from the VA providing proof of their restored benefits.
Rep. Buchanan subsequently introduced the VETS Credit Act 2.0 this Congress to ensure the VA provides the same help and services to eligible student veterans whose schools closed or programs ended after August 1, 2021, according to information provided by his staff.
“America’s veterans have earned every opportunity to succeed, and we owe it to them to protect the benefits they’ve worked so hard for,” said Rep. Buchanan. “The VETS Credit Act 2.0 will expand eligibility for student veterans to ensure that no veterans will lose valuable G.I. Bill credits because their school closed by no fault of their own.”