Amending Title United States Code, to Ensure That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Repays Members of the Armed Forces for Certain Contributions Made By Such Members Towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5918) to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made by such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5918
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. REPAYMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) In General.--Section 3327(f)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``together'' and all that follows through ``(as applicable),''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on August 1, 2023. SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN HOUSING LOAN FEES.
The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``January 14, 2031'' each place it appears and inserting ``January 28, 2031''. SEC. 3. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. TAKANO. 5918, as amended.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5918, as amended, legislation to ensure veterans can recoup the money they paid into the Montgomery GI Bill.
Under current law, veterans who do not fully access their Montgomery GI Bill can lose out on the payments they made into the program, in some cases totaling up to $1,200.
The Montgomery GI Bill is in the process of being phased out for the more generous Forever GI Bill. Many veterans may not remember the $1,200 they paid into the program in the early days of their service or even be aware that they are entitled to a refund of the unused funds.
The process to reclaim that $1,200 can be difficult, and there are times when the veteran can simply lose out on the money because they waited too long. This legislation eliminates that cumbersome process by making it so the veteran is repaid, no questions asked.
The bill is fully offset and supported by the veterans service organization community, including by Student Veterans of America.
Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Banks) for his work on this legislation and the VSO community for bringing this issue to our committee. I urge the rest of my colleagues to support this legislation to ensure no veteran loses out on what is owed to them.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 5918, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source