A bipartisan bill recently proposed by U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) would require the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force to establish a permanent program to provide tuition assistance to members of the U.S. Air National Guard.
The Air Guard Standardizing Tuition Assistance to Unify the Services (STATUS) Act of 2025, H.R. 6478, which Rep. Graves cosponsored on Dec. 4 alongside bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-IL), would provide a permanent federal tuition assistance program for drill status guard members of the Air National Guard.
“The Air Guard STATUS Act is about finally closing a gap that should’ve never existed,” Rep. Graves said on Wednesday. “It gives Air National Guard members the same federal tuition assistance the Army National Guard already receives, helping recruit, retain, and take care of the airmen who keep our communities and our country safe.
“We value their service and investing in their education is one of the clearest ways to show it,” the congressman added.
Under H.R. 6478, the tuition assistance program would be consistent with the program already available to the Army National Guard, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Graves’ staff.
“Our airmen proudly serve our communities and our country, and they should have equal access to education benefits no matter where they live,” said Rep. Sorensen. “I am proud… to make sure we invest in our Air National Guard members across the country.”
The legislation is supported by the National Guard Association of the United States and is under consideration by the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.