U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan’s, R-Fla., proposal “to help student veterans by ensuring they are able to quickly and easily transfer their course credits to another institution should their school close or program end suddenly” cleared Congress last week.
Back in February, Buchanan brought out the “Veterans Eligible to Transfer School (VETS) Credit Act” which “would require the VA to work with students and explain the school credit transfer process and to provide them with a certificate of eligibility from the VA providing proof of their restored benefits.”
At that time, the congressman’s office offered some of the reasons why he introduced the bill.
“While current law requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to restore G.I. Bill benefits (up to 12 credits) to eligible student veterans whose schools close or program ends in the middle of a semester, the process can be very confusing and oftentimes leaves veterans unable to easily transfer their earned credits to a new school,” Buchanan’s office noted.
The House overwhelmingly passed the bill back in May on a 412-1 vote. U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., was the lone opponent of Buchanan’s proposal.
The U.S. Senate passed the bill last week without opposition.
“The G.I. Bill’s promise of a college education is one of most important and effective tools we have to recruit and retain the very best and brightest to serve in the U.S. armed forces,” said Buchanan after the vote. “I’m pleased to see the U.S. Senate approve my bill, the VETS Credit Act, to ensure that no veteran loses access to the valuable G.I. Bill credits they earned and deserve by virtue of their service and look forward to this important measure being signed into law.”
U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy, R-NC, added a provision “that makes it easier for dependents of veterans or active-duty military to retain transferred Post-9/11 G.I. bill benefits” to Buchanan’s bill.
“Eastern North Carolina veterans earned their benefits with honorable military service to our country. With Rep. Buchanan’s VETS Credit Act headed to the president’s desk, these benefits are guaranteed so that our servicemen and women returning home have easy access to a college education. I’m proud that my commonsense bill is included in the VETS Credit Act to ensure clerical errors do not prevent dependents from receiving well-earned educational assistance. This is a tremendous step for our outstanding military families and I look forward to seeing how this legislation will help them obtain the benefits they deserve,” Murphy said.
President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law.
