Today, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee approved a “megabus” bill (S.425) that includes three bipartisan bills introduced by Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) aimed at improving educational opportunities for veterans and their families. On Veterans Day, two of these bills were endorsed by President Obama, who urged Congress to quickly pass them 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,” said Senator Tillis. “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.”
The S.425 “megabus” bill includes:
The Career-Ready Student Veterans Act
The Fry Scholarship Enhancement Act
The Veterans Education Relief and Restoration Act
“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,” said Senator Tillis. “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.”
The S.425 “megabus” bill includes:
The Career-Ready Student Veterans Act
- Introduced by Senators Tillis and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and endorsed by President Obama, the legislation would require that programs of education designed to prepare students for licensure or certification by a state, or for employment subject to the approval of a state board or agency, must meet any state curriculum requirements or be approved or licensed by the appropriate state entity in order for the course to be approved for VA educational benefits.
The Fry Scholarship Enhancement Act
- Introduced by Senators Tillis and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the legislation would authorize Yellow Ribbon program eligibility for dependents receiving Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits under the Fry scholarship.
The Veterans Education Relief and Restoration Act
- The legislation, which was introduced by Senators Tillis and Blumenthal and subsequently endorsed by President Obama, would provide veterans impacted by closures of education institutions certain relief and restoration of education benefits. The legislation restores entitlement for individuals who pursued a program of education with VA educational assistance and failed to receive credit as a result of the closure of their educational institution.
