Three bipartisan VA bills from Tillis advance in the Senate

A megabus bill – S. 425 – that includes three bipartisan bills introduced by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) to improve educational opportunities for veterans and their families was approved by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on Thursday.

Two of Tillis’ bills were endorsed by President Barack Obama on Veterans Day. The president called on Congress to quickly pass the bills and send them to his desk.

“The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee continues to demonstrate that bipartisan problem solving is still possible in Washington, with members coming together to improve the lives of veterans and their families,” Tillis said. “It is an honor to work across the aisle with Senator Brown and Senator Blumenthal on commonsense legislation that will help ensure our veterans have ample opportunities to get a quality education without fear that burdensome roadblocks will prevent them from realizing their American dream.”

S. 425 includes the Career-Ready Student Veterans Act, the Fry Scholarship Enhancement Act, and the Veterans Education Relief and Restoration Act.

The Career-Ready Student Veterans Act, introduced by Tillis and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and endorsed by President Obama, would require that educational programs designed to prepare students for licensure or certification by state or for employment subject to state board or agency approval either meet state curriculum requirements or be approved or licensed by the appropriate state entity for the course to be approved for VA educational benefits.

Under the Fry Scholarship Enhancement Act, introduced by Tillis and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), eligibility for the Yellow Ribbon program would be authorized for dependents who receive Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits under the Fry Scholarship.

The Veterans Education Relief and Restoration Act, introduced by Tillis and Blumenthal and endorsed by President Obama, provides veterans who have been affected by closures of education institutions with certain relief and restoration of education benefits. Entitlement would be restored under the legislation for those who pursued an education program with VA educational assistance but who failed to receive credit because of the closure of their education institution.