McCaskill Backs Veterans Education Relief Effort

Press Release

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is backing a bipartisan bill to support veteran students in the event of a closure of their college or university by restoring educational assistance benefits spent at a shuttered institution.

"Some of these for-profit schools have been ripping students off without producing job-ready graduates," said McCaskill, the daughter of a World War II veteran and senior member of the Armed Services Committee. "As our veterans continue to take advantage of expanded educational opportunities through the post-9/11 GI bill, we owe it to them to make sure they're able to access a quality education, and I want to be sure that if these schools close down, it's not the men and women who served their country who are left to foot the bill."

In the event of a school closure, such as the recent shuttering of for-profit institution ITT Tech, students are allowed the option of discharging their federal student loans, while veterans are not offered a similar option through their GI Bill benefits. The Veterans Education Relief and Restoration Act would ensure that veteran students would not be charged towards their educational assistance for money spent at closed institutions. In addition, the bill gives the VA the authority to continue monthly housing benefits provided under the GI Bill until the end of the current semester or four months post-closure so veterans are not left without housing.

McCaskill is a strong advocate of ensuring that the men and women who served our country receive the benefits they deserve, as well as fighting to make college more affordable and focusing on producing job-ready graduates. Last year, she signed onto legislation that would close a loophole that allows for-profit colleges and universities to inappropriately profit from educational benefits accrued by servicemembers and veterans.

McCaskill was a vocal supporter of the 21st Century GI Bill, which provided the greatest boost to veterans' higher education benefits since World War II. McCaskill was also a leading advocate for the VOW to Hire Heroes Act to help put more veterans back to work.

McCaskill has made improving care for veterans a priority of her work in the U.S. Senate--leading efforts to increase accountability and quality of veterans services, and last year announced the expansion of her successful "secret-shopper" program to the southwest Missouri area. The Veterans' Customer Service Program allows veterans to share timely, confidential feedback about their VA health care visits, and helps provide oversight and accountability for VA health care facilities.

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