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Committee weighs multiple bills to expand and equalize veterans’ education benefits
Summary
Lawmakers, VA officials and veteran-service organizations debated proposals to raise the GI Bill book stipend, expand STEM and apprenticeship access, adjust online housing stipends, and extend Gold Star family benefits; VA supported some changes but flagged implementation and statutory complexity for others.
Members of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee reviewed several proposals that would alter veterans' education benefits, including changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill book stipend, the Gold Star Family Education Parity Act, earlier access to STEM scholarships, an apprenticeship approval reform for interstate trucking programs, and proposals to change monthly housing allowance for online students.
Representative Gabe Vasquez introduced the bipartisan Veterans Education Assistance Adjustment Act to raise the annual book stipend from $1,000 to $1,400, citing inflation since the Post-9/11 GI Bill was enacted in February 2008. Andrew Petrie of the American Legion and Blaise Smith of the University of Arizona both endorsed increasing the book stipend, saying the rise would better cover supplies for students and families.
Representative Chris Pappas highlighted the Veterans Transition to Trucking Act (H.R. 2954), which would let…
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