Exempting Certain Transfers of Funds to Department of Veterans Affairs From Certain Provisions of the Economy Act
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. GOSAR. Madam Chair, I rise not against this bill, but I have concerns about a provision capping the veterans' training benefits. This severely undermines the important goal of helping our Nation's veterans enter a field where they are desperately needed.
H.R. 1947 does have needed improvements for structural veteran flight training benefits. This includes an accelerated payment provision to provide greater flexibility and a more efficient funding mechanism to help veterans complete their flight training.
The bill also provides coverage for obtaining a private pilot's license when it is incorporated into the requirements of a professional flight training program.
Additionally, this action provides flexibility to public schools, allowing them to contract for flight training, which, in turn, makes aviation training more available to interested veterans.
There is improved fiscal responsibility by the government, and there is strong support for tightening the existing regulations of the Department of Veterans Affairs to curb abuses by a minority of flight schools affiliated with collegian degree programs. However, the bill caps payments for flight training programs, which unfairly impacts the ability of veterans to pursue well-paying jobs in the civilian aviation sector.
Capping funds available for flight training degree programs virtually guarantees that veterans seeking to use their GI Bill benefits to enter the aviation industry will have insufficient funds to achieve their goals. They will either abandon their pursuit or be burdened with significant personal debt through either expenditure of personal funds or taking on severe student loans. This will harm veterans and limit their employment opportunities in the aviation industry.
It is unfair and discriminatory to single out these funding caps for veterans seeking employment in aviation. These caps deprive them of the ability to pursue collegian flight training, a common path to a career as a commercial pilot.
I hope this provision can be addressed prior to finding its way to the President. These jobs in aviation are in high demand, and our veterans are some of the most deserving and most needed.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source