Student veterans need consistently paid housing stipends, says Roberts

U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) on June 24 cosponsored a bipartisan bill to improve the payment of monthly housing stipends for student military veterans under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program.

Sen. Roberts introduced the Student Veterans Housing Act, S. 1946, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to end payment gaps in housing stipends for student veterans.

“The brave men and women who put their lives on the line for our country deserve the best education possible,” Sen. Roberts said. “I’m glad to join Senator Stabenow in introducing this legislation to assure student veterans that their housing stipends will still be provided during academic breaks.”

As part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the program provides tuition assistance, monthly housing stipends and money for books and supplies to qualifying student veterans enrolled full-time in a college or university.

Currently, at the end of an academic semester, their monthly housing stipends may be reduced or end because existing law dictates that the stipends can’t be paid if the recipient is not actively enrolled in classes, according to information provided by Sen. Roberts’ office.

If enacted, S. 1946 would stipulate that student veterans utilizing Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits continue to receive their monthly housing stipends during breaks between academic semesters, according to a bill summary from the senator’s office.

S. 1946, which is endorsed by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Student Veterans for America, has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.