NAICU Washington Update

House Committee Passes Bipartisan GI Bill Benefit Expansion

July 20, 2017

The House Veterans Affairs Committee passed a bipartisan bill to expand educational benefits for veterans and their families, and lengthen the duration in which those benefits are available.

Key provisions of the comprehensive bill (H.R. 3218), which NAICU and the higher education community support, include:

  • Providing full GI Bill benefits to all Purple Heart recipients.
  • Providing access to educational benefits for Post-9/11 recipients for an unlimited period of time.
  • Increasing benefits for reservists.
  • Making survivors of service members killed in the line of duty eligible for the Yellow Ribbon program.
  • Restoring educational benefits to student veterans attending institutions that closed.
  • Adding a fifth year scholarship for veterans pursuing STEM degrees.  

The House has plans for floor passage soon; the Senate is planning on companion action before the August recess.

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