Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) said on Monday that he was pleased the House unanimously passed the Veterans’ Economic Opportunity Act to simplify veterans’ education benefits policies.
“Our veterans deserve a simple, straightforward education benefits process that is free of unnecessary, bureaucratic delays,” Calvert said. “I appreciate the strong, bipartisan support shown by my House colleagues today and I look forward to our continued work to simplify VA benefits for veterans and our colleges.”
Under current legislation, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs requires community colleges to certify that their veteran students are enrolled in a specific number of classes before student benefits are dispersed. Veterans who take classes at multi-campus colleges experience a delay in receiving benefits while the college and the VA complete paperwork.
The new bill would update the rules to account for multi-campus colleges by creating a centralized reporting of veteran enrollment by groups, districts and consortiums of educational institutions.
The bill was approved by the House on Monday and awaits approval by the Senate.
Calvert was elected to the House in 1992. He serves on the House Appropriations Committee and the House Budget Committee. He is also a member of the Defense Subcommittee, the Interior and the Environment subcommittee and the Energy and Water Subcommittee.