Rep. Takano: Committee Vote is a Major Step Toward Securing GI Bill for Future Generations of Veterans
Legislative package includes four bills authored or co-led by Congressman Takano, including restoration of benefits for ITT Tech, Corinthian Students
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), vice chair of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, released the following statement after the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs passed the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, which expands and secures the GI Bill for America’s veterans.
“Today’s bipartisan vote is a major step toward securing the GI Bill for generations of future veterans. I applaud the leadership Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz, the collaboration from Members across the political spectrum, and the contributions from veteran service organizations, which produced a bill that honors our veterans’ service and ensures they have the opportunity to achieve a rewarding and purposeful civilian life.
“I am particularly grateful that this bill fully restores GI Bill benefits to student veterans harmed by the abrupt closures of Corinthian Colleges, ITT Technical Institute, and other institutions that recently shuttered without warning. For more than two years I have pushed my colleagues to provide relief to these veterans from my community and across the country. Today’s vote takes us closer to providing them the support they desperately need and deserve.”
The legislative package includes four pieces of legislation championed by Rep. Takano:
- The Veterans Education Relief and Restoration Act (introduced by Rep. Takano) restores GI Bill benefits lost by student veterans when their school abruptly closes dud to financial trouble, federal investigations and lawsuits, or other factors. It applies retroactively to former students of Corinthian Colleges and ITT Technical Institute, and includes housing benefits as well as tuition support.
- The GI Bill Fairness Act (introduced by Rep. Takano) ends the unequal treatment of Guardsmen and Reservists by ensuring they can accrue GI Bill benefits when ordered to active duty for their recovery, treatment, and rehabilitation.
- The Work-Study for Student Veterans Act (introduced by Rep. Takano) makes permanent the VA’s Student Work-Study Allowance Program, which allows qualifying student veterans to get paid for work that assists fellow veterans, whether it’s on campus, at VA facilities, or at other veteran-centered organizations.
- The Veterans Education Equity Act (co-led by Rep. Takano) makes local community colleges and universities more competitive by correcting the formula for calculating student veterans’ housing allowance
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