Heinrich, Banks, Duckworth Introduce Legislation to Support Veterans’ Continued Education

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) 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.

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 - including 1,834 New Mexico veterans in 2024. This VA program helps pay for veterans' tuition, 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.

"Delivering on America's promise to service members, veterans, and their families is extremely important to me, and that's especially true in the face of rising inflation that's cheapening their hard-earned benefits," said Heinrich. "That's why I'm leading this legislation to increase the books and supplies stipend for veterans, to help them get the education they deserve after their military service. I will always support our veterans - while working to lower costs, grow our economy, and connect more New Mexicans to the opportunities and careers they can build their families around."

"This bipartisan bill ensures veterans' education benefits keep pace with rising prices and better supports those pursuing careers in the trades. It's a commonsense step to help our veterans succeed after their service," said Banks.

"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."

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 twenty years ago. Heinrich's 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.
   • It will also require the VA to annually adjust the maximum payable stipend with the CPI-U of the preceding fiscal year.
2. Adjust the base books and supplies stipend for veterans enrolled in apprenticeships to $128 - consistent with the current CPI-U inflation estimate.
   • It will also require the VA to annually adjust the maximum payable stipend with the CPI-U of the preceding fiscal year.
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).

"Many of our veterans are working hard to better themselves with continuing education. But despite the GI-bill, they still face financial struggle. This bill would not only correct a long overdue increase, but also ensure future veterans aren't shortchanged. Let's help our veterans to do better, be better,"said James Haddox, State Commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of New Mexico.

The text of the bill is here.

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