Banks Applauds Passage of Legislation to Expand, Extend GI Bill

Statement

Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03), a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, today voted for the "Forever GI Bill," bipartisan legislation that would expand and extend the GI Bill. The legislation passed the House unanimously.

"This is an important step forward for our veterans," said Banks. "The original GI Bill transformed our country and provided a generation of veterans with important educational opportunities. This legislation invests in a new generation of veterans and ensures no veteran gets left behind."

The legislation will remove time restrictions in the GI Bill, enabling recipients to use their GI Bill benefits for a lifetime. The measure includes significant increases in GI Bill funding for reservists, guardsmen, dependents, surviving spouses and surviving dependents. It provides 100% GI Bill eligibility to all post-9/11 Purple Heart recipients.

The Forever GI Bill also includes a measure introduced by Banks that would make permanent a pilot program called VetSuccess on Campus, which places counselors on college campuses to assist veterans in navigating their GI benefits and charting their higher education path. More information about the VetSuccess on Campus program is available here.

"The VetSuccess on Campus program is a valuable tool to help our veterans not only receive GI benefits but also use them well," said Banks. "I am glad to see my proposal included in this important legislation."

The legislation passed by the House today is budget neutral and includes provisions that have been proposed and prioritized by Veterans Service Organizations.

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