GI Bill National Emergency Extended Deadline Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2167, as amended, the GI Bill National Emergency Extended Deadlines--or NEED--Act.

This bill would extend time limitations for the use of entitlement for VA education programs due to an emergency. I am supportive of the underlying bill. I also thank Chairman Takano, Congresswoman Sherrill, for including several Republican provisions in this legislation.

This bill includes the text of two of Congressman Moore's bill, H.R. 2420, the Overseeing the GI Bill Act of 2021; and H.R. 2457, the Colonel John McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act.

H.R. 2420 would require VA to submit regular reports to Congress on the progress of the Digital GI Bill program. This is a system that the VA is purchasing to overhaul the antiquated system that processes GI bill claims. The failed implementation of the Forever GI Bill in 2018 led to thousands of veterans waiting weeks for their claims to be processed. This provision would provide the needed oversight to ensure that these mistakes are not repeated.

H.R. 2457 would require institutions of higher learning to provide an in-State tuition to participants in the Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance Program. This would bring the benefits in line with other GI Bill programs that require that veterans be provided in- State tuition.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Moore for his hard work on both of these bills. H.R. 2167, as amended, also includes texts from Congresswoman Mace's bill, H.R. 2327. Congresswoman Mace's provisions would ensure that benefits through the Dependents' Education Assistance GI Bill program will never expire for eligible students. This would bring this program in line with the way the post-9/11 GI bill benefits work for most other veterans. I commend Congresswoman Mace for her hard work on this bill to expand benefits to dependents and survivors.

Finally, this bill also includes the text of Congressman Cawthorn's bill, H.R. 2391, the Veterans Fellowship Act. This bill would direct the Department of Labor to carry out a pilot program to help veterans find meaningful employment through short-term fellowships. The DOL would provide a stipend for the veterans to participate in the pilot program.

Madam Speaker, I thank all of these Members for their hard work drafting these important pieces of legislation. I am pleased to support the bill, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

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