Montgomery Gi Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2024
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7323) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disapprove courses of education offered by a public institution of higher learning that does not charge the in-State tuition rate to a veteran using certain educational assistance under title 10 of such Code, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7323
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 ``Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2024''. SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DISAPPROVAL OF COURSES OFFERED BY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING THAT DO NOT CHARGE VETERANS IN-STATE TUITION RATE FOR PURPOSES OF SELECTED RESERVE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Subsection (c) of section 3679 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, or chapter 1606 of title 10,'' after ``chapter 30, 31, 33, or 35 of this title'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(E) An individual who is entitled to assistance under section 16131 of title 10.''; and
(3) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``, or chapter 1606 of title 10'' before the period at the end.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Subsection (e) of such section is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, or chapter 1606 of title 10,'' after ``chapter 31, 33, or 35 of this title''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``chapter 31 33, or 35 of this title'' and inserting ``chapter 31, 33, or 35 of this title, or chapter 1606 of title 10''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``chapter 31 33, or 35 of this title'' and inserting ``chapter 31, 33, or 35 of this title, or chapter 1606 of title 10''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 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, 2025. SEC. 3. LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF ENTITLEMENT TO EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PAYABLE FOR FLIGHT TRAINING UNDER POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Section 3313 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (g)(3)(C), by striking ``In the case'' and inserting ``Subject to the limitation under subsection (m), in the case''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(m) Limitation on Use of Entitlement for Flight Training.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the maximum amount payable under this chapter to an individual, over the lifetime of the individual, for tuition and fees for the pursuit of a program of flight training offered by a public institution of higher learning that leads to a degree, certificate, or other non-college degree, regardless of how many such programs the individual pursues, is--
``(A) in the case of an individual who first pursues such a program during the academic year beginning on August 1, 2025, $115,749; or
``(B) in the case of an individual who first pursues such a program during an academic year beginning on August 1 of any subsequent year, the amount in effect under this subsection for the previous academic year beginning on August 1, as increased by the percentage increase equal to the most recent percentage increase determined under section 3015(h) of this title.
``(2) Pursuit on less than a full-time basis.--In the case of an individual who is entitled to educational assistance under this chapter by reason of any of paragraph (3) through (7) of section 3311(b) of this title, the maximum amount payable under paragraph (1) is--
``(A) the amount in effect under paragraph (1), multiplied by
``(B) the same percentage applicable to the monthly amounts payable to the individual under paragraphs (2) through (6) of subsection (c).
``(3) Prior use of entitlement.--In the case of an individual who is entitled to educational assistance under this chapter and who uses any of such entitlement prior to the pursuit of a program of flight training offered by a public institution of higher learning that leads to a degree, certificate, or other non-college degree, the maximum amount of payable to the individual under this subsection is--
``(A) the maximum total amount in effect under paragraph (1), minus
``(B) the amount of entitlement to educational assistance the individual used before enrolling in such program.''.
(b) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on August 1, 2025, and shall apply with respect to an individual who first pursues a program of flight training on or after August 1, 2025.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BOST. 7323, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7323 offered by my friend and fellow veteran, our Economic Opportunity Subcommittee chairman, Representative Van Orden.
This bill would reduce tuition costs for Montgomery GI Bill selected reservists by making them eligible for the same in-State tuition waiver that the other GI Bill recipients receive.
Representative Van Orden's bill would also reduce the cost for veterans seeking to become pilots. Veterans attending flight training schools would not be charged unlimited fees but instead would pay fees equal to those charged by a 4-year private college or university.
Student veterans would also be able to complete their flight training faster because they would be able to attend flight training year-round under this bill.
I fully support this bill that would ensure VA can protect the integrity of the GI Bill and provide veterans with the best economic and educational opportunities out there.
I thank the VFW, the ROA, and the DAV for supporting this bill, and I also thank my friend and colleague from New Jersey, Representative Kean, for his work on the flight school enhancements that are included in this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 7323, as amended. Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, September 12, 2024. Hon. Mike Bost, Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Bost: I write concerning H.R. 7323, a bill sponsored by Representative Van Orden of Wisconsin. As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions within H.R. 7323 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services, I agree to forego any further consideration of this bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration.
The Committee on Armed Services takes this action with our mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 7323 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over subject matter contained in this or similar legislation and that our committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction.
Finally, I ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included by House Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the Congressional Record during floor consideration, to memorialize our understanding. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this matter and others between our respective committees. Sincerely, Michael D. Rogers, Chairman, House Committee on Armed Services. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC, September 12, 2024. Hon. Mike Rogers, Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Rogers: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 7323, the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2024. I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services. I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services over the subject matters contained in this bill or similar legislation in the future. In addition, I would support your request to have the Committee on Armed Services appropriately consulted on any issues in this bill or similar legislation that fall under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services.
I will place copies of this exchange in the committee report on H.R. 7323 and into the Congressional Record during consideration of this legislation on the House floor. Sincerely, Mike Bost, Chairman.
Mr. VAN ORDEN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to speak today on behalf of my legislation, H.R. 7323, the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act.
The bill holds special meaning to me because the issue was brought to my attention by one of my constituents, a fellow veteran, Mr. Greg Tremelling, during a Veterans Day listening session.
His voice, along with many other reservists and veterans, made clear that we have to change our policies. This is how representative government should be, us listening to our constituents and acting on their behalf.
I am proud to represent the brave men and women who serve at Fort McCoy and Volk Field who make sacrifices for us every day and for this Nation.
We have to remember that three out of the last five servicemembers that were killed defending our country were reservists, the other two, of course, being my fellow Navy SEALS who were lost at sea.
These servicemembers gave everything to defend our country, a solemn reminder that reservists face the same risks and make the same sacrifices as their Active-Duty counterparts, and their service must never be overlooked.
By passing this bill, we are going to take steps to ensure parity between reservists and Active-Duty servicemembers.
By addressing this key disparity in educational benefits, my legislation will provide reservists with greater access to affordable education.
I remind everybody that the enemy doesn't care if you are a reservist or a National Guardsman or an Active-Duty servicemember. They are simply aiming at the American flag that you have on your shoulder.
It is time for a change. I thank Mr. Tremelling personally for bringing this to my attention. Again, I thank Chairman Bost and Ranking Member Takano for supporting this, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote for this bill.
Mr. KEAN of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7323, the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2024, introduced by my friend, Congressman Van Orden from Wisconsin.
This legislation includes my bill, H.R. 7613, the Veterans Flight Training Responsibility Act of 2024. This act would allow up to $115,000 in benefits for veterans to use at public institutions of higher learning for flight school.
This number is on par with the cap for 4-year private institutions so that veterans in flight schools are not disadvantaged and it would allow veterans to go to school year-round.
Additionally, this legislation would protect American taxpayers from schools charging hundreds of thousands of dollars for a degree that should not cost that much.
Finally, by getting veterans through school faster and protecting the VA from flight school GI Bill fraud, this legislation would help the economy and America's deficit, while being a good steward of taxpayer dollars.
This bill would allow student veterans who wish to train during the summer months to do so. This allows those students to take advantage of better weather conditions for flight training.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this vital piece of legislation to help our veterans obtain degrees quicker and advance in their chosen profession.
Finally, I thank Chairman Bost for advancing this legislation and my friend, Congressman Van Orden, for sponsoring the underlying bill.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source