In May, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) introduced a bill that would repeal the time limits under the GI Bill. Currently, veterans have 10 years to use their benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill, or 15 years to use their Post-9/11 GI Bill. If they fail to do so, they forfeit both the benefits and the $1,200 they paid to participate in the program.
As Senator Blumenthal stated in support of his Veterans Back to School Act, “given the changing nature of today’s job market and economy, many veterans are now choosing to go back to school and receive additional training and expertise more than a decade after separating from the military. These wise decisions should be supported for all veterans. The Veterans Back to School Act provides a simple fix to eliminate the unjust and unfair restrictions, and allows current and future generations of veterans to use these hard-earned benefits whenever it makes best sense for their futures, families and careers.”
Under the verbiage of the new bill, a veteran’s entitlement to these benefits would not end until ten years after the date he begins using the benefits. The bill also provides for funding for offices of veterans affairs at institutions of higher education. This funding will be provided only if the appropriations are available, and if at least 50 individuals at the institution are eligible for assistance.
According to the statistics on the Congressional website covering the bill, it has only a 41% chance of getting past its Congressional committee (Senate Veterans Affairs), and a scant 4% chance of being enacted.
Even as a veterans advocate, I’m not crazy about this bill. On one hand, veterans benefits are called entitlements for a reason. Veterans served our country, and they are owed a debt. This is why a Vietnam-era veteran can apply for, and receive, disability compensation benefits forty years after his active duty service. (My father did! Read about our fight for his benefits here). If that is permitted, why not permit GI Bill benefits to be used at any time after service?
On the other hand, the law specifically provides time limits for using benefits under the GI Bill. Veterans are put on notice they are to be used within a certain period of time. Moreover, that time frame is generous – a decade or more. Also, I have to wonder how many veterans this bill would actually affect, given that if a veteran hasn’t used his benefits in a decade, he probably never will. Last, while I am unfamiliar with the Congressional history of the GI Bill, I have to guess that there must have been a reason for the time limits. In particular, knowing how many veterans are eligible for education benefits within a certain period of time helps the VA estimate the monies paid out through the program.
We’ll see. There are so many different measures and programs that could help our nation’s veterans. While I appreciate the spirit behind this bill, I daresay its promotion may not be the best use of veterans advocates’ times.
The bill, as introduced to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, may be accessed here. If you found this blog informative, please sign up to receive it on a weekly basis on my home page. Remember to click the link sent to your email to activate your subscription!
I am glad that they are making the public aware of the seriousness of this issue, but I am sort of torn because I wouldn’t want anything that infringes on free speech! Wouldn’t lying about your veteran status or military awards already be covered under anti-fraud laws?
Yes, I believe that this would be worth the debate!! I know that it would cost more money but it would also help veterans move forward with their lives through self improvement and empowerment!! Maybe we can pay for it with cuts to other wasteful or redundant programs? Maybe a Fair Tax, then we could eliminate the IRS!!!