The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee recently approved legislation introduced by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) to simplify veterans’ education benefits.
The bill would streamline the Department of Veterans Affairs’ processes for community colleges with more than one campus. The VA currently requires that community colleges verify that their veteran students are enrolled for a specific number of classes before the VA disperses student benefits.
Calvert said the rules should be updated to account for multi-college community college districts. Without such an update, veterans pursuing an education within any multi-college district must wait while their benefits are delayed due to unnecessary paperwork. The legislation would direct the VA Secretary to allow the centralized reporting of veteran enrollment by consortiums of educational institutions.
“Removing unnecessary, bureaucratic delays that complicate education benefits is the least we can do for our veterans,” Calvert said. “I am pleased that the Veterans’ Affairs Committee has advanced my legislation and I am hopeful it will soon be considered on the House floor. “
Calvert sits on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Earlier this year, he introduced the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act
The Distinguished Flying Cross was established in 1926 as an award given to members with the Air Corps of the Army, including the National Guard, the Navy and the Organized Reserves, who have displayed heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight.
The House included the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act in the FY2014 National Defense Authorization Act.