Senate Panel Approves Changes for GI Bill
The Senate Veterans' Affairs (VA) Committee approved legislation (S. 3447) that would authorize extensive changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill late last week. Committee members support expanding the program to reimburse for vocational training and some on-the-job-training programs, and providing a reduced monthly stipend (50 percent) for distance-learning students who take online classes. The measure would also allow active-duty service members and their spouses to receive the $1,000/year book stipend (currently available only to veterans and retirees) and provide a reduced monthly stipend based on the number of classes in which the student is enrolled. The bill will be considered by the full Senate when lawmakers return from the August recess. Members can contact their senators through the FRA Action Center (www.fra.org) to express support for the legislation.
