Duckworth, Heinrich and Banks Lead Bipartisan Push to Increase Support for Veterans’ Continued Education

Duckworth, Heinrich and Banks Lead Bipartisan Push to Increase Support for Veterans' Continued Education

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced the Veteran Education Assistance Adjustment Act, bipartisan legislation that will increase Veterans' yearly books and supply stipend to $1,500 to keep up with inflation. The bill also increases the supply stipend for Veterans enrolled in apprenticeships and pursuing careers in the trades.

"When our Veterans hang up their uniform, they deserve our full support as they transition back into civilian life and easy access to the benefits they've earned," said Duckworth. "As inflation continues to rise, the cost of required books, supplies and materials for those pursuing higher education and apprenticeships has also skyrocketed. By increasing the annual books and supplies stipend, we're helping ensure more Veterans can pursue education and training opportunities without being held back by rising costs."

Veterans use the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)'s Post-9/11 GI Bill program to affordably access higher education after their service. This VA program helps pay for Veterans' tuition and provides a housing allowance and a $1,000 stipend for books and supplies. Current law adjusts the VA's maximum payable rates for tuition and housing allowances with inflation, but the $1,000 annual stipend hasn't been raised since 2008. Today, more than 600,000 Veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill program are receiving less educational assistance than their fellow Veterans did nearly 20 years ago. The Veteran Education Assistance Adjustment Act will ensure all provisions of the Post-9/11 GI Bill keep pace with rising costs.

Specifically, the Veteran Education Assistance Adjustment Act will:

1. Adjust the base books and supplies stipend to $1,500 by amending current law to stay consistent with the current CPI-U inflation estimate.
2. Adjust the base books and supplies stipend for veterans enrolled in apprenticeships to $128 - consistent with the current CPI-U inflation estimate.
3. Require the VA Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress detailing the latest Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits adjustments, data demonstrating trends in veteran participation and graduation rates from education programs, and the average processing time for veterans applying to receive education benefits.

The Veteran Education Assistance Adjustment Act is endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA).

The full text of the legislation is available on Senator Duckworth's website.

Duckworth, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, is a fierce advocate for Veterans and has worked to increase their access to resources and programs aimed at helping them start and grow their careers when transitioning back to civilian life. Last month, Duckworth joined U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) in leading a bipartisan push to increase access to Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for Veterans pursuing apprenticeships. The Senators' Reducing Arbitrary Barriers to Apprenticeship Act would allow Post-9/11 GI Bill beneficiaries pursuing On-the-Job Training (OJT) or Apprenticeship (APP) programs to have access to the full monthly housing allowance (MHA) amount without a semiannual reduction and without a monthly work hour requirement.

-30-