Bipartisan legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) to ensure certain honorably discharged United States service members may seek financial compensation for a college education received approval on Sept. 14 from the U.S. House of Representatives as part of a larger bill.
“I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who helped get this bill to the floor so it could pass the House,” Rep. Joyce said on Wednesday. “I urge the Senate to act soon so we can get it signed into law.”
Rep. Joyce in May introduced his bill, the Sgt. Wolf Kyle Weninger Veterans Education Fairness Act of 2022, H.R. 7746, with cosponsors U.S. Reps. Mike Bost (R-IL) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). The legislation would provide eligibility for educational assistance under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program for certain individuals who receive sole survivorship discharges, according to the text of the bill.
The bill is named in honor of the late Marine Sgt. Wolfgang Kyle Weninger, 28, from Ohio who was set to graduate from the U.S. Army Airborne School in Georgia where he was training to become a paratrooper. In June 2020, Weninger died during a training jump.
Following his death, Kyle Weninger’s only sibling, Drew Weninger, an active duty U.S. Navy lieutenant, was granted a sole survivorship discharge to return home. However, because Drew Weninger had not yet completed three full years of active-duty service prior to his honorable discharge, he was ineligible to receive financial support under the 2008 GI Bill to further his education after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, according to Rep. Joyce’s office.
“After learning what happened to the Weninger family following Kyle’s death, I was humbled to introduce this bill on their behalf,” said Rep. Joyce. “The service members among our Gold Star Families have sacrificed so much on behalf of our nation. It’s only right to ensure they can access the benefits they’ve earned following the conclusion of their service.”
Rep. Joyce’s bill passed the House as part of the Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act of 2022, H.R. 7939, which would amend the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 — commonly known as the new G.I. Bill — to ensure soldiers who are honorably discharged under the sole survivorship discharge distinction prior to completing three years of active duty remain eligible to seek financial compensation for a college education, according to a bill summary provided by the congressman’s staff.
H.R. 7939 now heads to the Senate for consideration.