A deeper look at the unwanted effects of the latest law to fix the GI Bill has congress scrambling to undo the damage before it's too late.
Since April 6, several bills have been introduced with the aim of fixing the latest fix to the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, AKA GI Bill 2.0). Two of the bills target the new $17,500 tuition and fee cap for non-public colleges and universities. Another bill would restore interval pay, which currently pays benefits during scheduled breaks in study, like the common spring and winter breaks.
The following is a quick scorecard for each one the GI Bill 2.1 candidates:
The Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011 - H.R. 1383. Introduced by Representative Jeff Miller (R-FL), on April 6, 2011, this bill has only two cosponsors and referred to the House Committee for Veterans Affairs. This bill seeks to protect currently enrolled veteran students from the pending $17,500 privately-operated school tuition and fee cap set to begin this fall. Under this bill such protection would expire on July 31, 2014 (24 months after the new rules go into effect).
The cost of this bill would be offset by freezing the housing stipend at the current 2011 basic allowance for housing BAH rate.
Click here to communicate with your elected officials about this bill.
Legislation to Protect Post-9/11 Veterans’ Tuition Benefits - S.745. Introduced by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), on April 6, 2011, this bill currently has only two sponsors has been referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Similar to H.R. 1383, Sen. Schumer’s bill would protect veterans from the pending $17,500 privately-operated school tuition and fee cap set to begin this fall. However, this protection under Schumer’s bill would expire on December 31, 2014.
Click here to communicate with your elected officials about this bill.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill Payment Restoration Act - H.R. 1451. Introduced by Representative Susan Davis (D-CA), on April 8, 2011, this bill has only two cosponsors and has been referred to the House Committee for Veterans Affairs. This bill would repeal the portion of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 and in effect reinstate living expense stipends during school breaks.
Click here to communicate with your elected officials about this bill.
Update 4th Bill to Fix GI Bill 2.0 - Thanks Chad for the reminder.
Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2011 - HR 1130. Introduced by Rodney Alexander (R-LA), on March 16, 2011, this bill has only one cosponsor. The act would allow any former member of the Armed Forces who has 20 years of active-duty service as of any date between September 30, 2001, and ending September 30, 2011, including at least 90 days of such service after September 10, 2001, to transfer to their dependents any remaining entitlement to educational assistance under the post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance program.
Click here to let your voice be heard on HR 1130.
There you have it, the first attempts to patch the holes and inequities caused by last year’s attempt to patch the holes and inequities in the original Post-9/11 GI Bill.
