Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1095) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the disapproval by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of courses of education offered by public institutions of higher learning that do not charge veterans the in-State tuition rate for purposes of Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: S. 1095

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act of 2021''. SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DISAPPROVAL OF COURSES OFFERED BY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING THAT DO NOT CHARGE VETERANS THE IN- STATE TUITION RATE FOR PURPOSES OF SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--Section 3679(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or 33'' and inserting ``33, or 35'';

(2) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

``(D) An individual who is entitled to assistance under section 3510 of this title.''; and

(3) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and 33'' and inserting ``33, and 35''.

(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3679(e) of such title is amended--

(1) in paragraph (1)--

(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or 33'' and inserting ``, 33, or 35''; and

(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``or 33'' and inserting ``33, or 35''; and

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or 33'' and inserting ``33, or 35''.

(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to an academic period that begins on or after August 1, 2022.

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Mr. TAKANO. 1095.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1095, the Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act.

This bill codifies an important protection for beneficiaries using the Department of Veterans Affairs Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program, or DEA. Through the DEA program, VA helps cover the cost of a beneficiary's school or job training.

This bill requires that public institutions of higher learning only charge in-State tuition for those utilizing the DEA program.

There are currently over 150,000 beneficiaries utilizing the DEA program. These beneficiaries are the survivors of brave women and men who died serving our country and the dependents of 100 percent service- connected disabled veterans.

Currently, this benefit equates to about $11,000 a year for most students. With the increasing costs of higher education, $11,000 does not cover all of a beneficiary's tuition costs at most schools, including public institutions where the student beneficiary would be considered out-of-State.

S. 1095 would provide parity for students using the DEA program with the Forever GI Bill program by requiring public institutions to charge in-State tuition for student veterans. This legislation has the strong endorsement of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer for bringing this legislation to the floor, and I urge the rest of my colleagues to support this legislation to ensure the survivors and dependents of those who bravely serve our country are not hindered by tuition costs when pursuing their education.

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing S. 1095, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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