Ensuring Military Access to Higher Education Benefits Act of 2023

10/9/2024, 5:21 PM

Ensuring Military Access to Higher Education Benefits Act of 2023

This bill requires the Department of Defense to complete a data matching agreement with the Department of Education to ensure that current or former active-duty military service members or civilian employees who are eligible for the public service loan forgiveness program have their periods of employment (beginning on October 1, 2007) automatically certified and counted towards the program.

Bill 118 s 2949, also known as the Ensuring Military Access to Higher Education Benefits Act of 2023, aims to provide greater access to higher education benefits for members of the military. The bill seeks to address the challenges that many service members face in utilizing their education benefits, such as the GI Bill, due to various barriers and restrictions.

One key provision of the bill is the establishment of a streamlined process for service members to access their education benefits. This includes simplifying the application process and reducing bureaucratic red tape that often hinders service members from utilizing their benefits in a timely manner.

Additionally, the bill aims to expand the types of educational programs that service members can use their benefits for, including vocational and technical training programs. This is intended to provide service members with more options for pursuing education and training that align with their career goals and interests. Furthermore, the bill includes provisions to improve outreach and education efforts to ensure that service members are aware of the benefits available to them and how to access them. This includes increasing resources for counseling and support services to help service members navigate the complexities of the education benefits system. Overall, the Ensuring Military Access to Higher Education Benefits Act of 2023 seeks to remove barriers and improve access to education benefits for members of the military, ultimately helping them to further their education and advance their careers upon returning to civilian life.
Congress
118
Number
S - 2949
Introduced on
2023-09-27
# Amendments
0
Sponsors
+5
Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

9/27/2023
Text
PDF
XML

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Ensuring Military Access to Higher Education Benefits Act of 2023

This bill requires the Department of Defense to complete a data matching agreement with the Department of Education to ensure that current or former active-duty military service members or civilian employees who are eligible for the public service loan forgiveness program have their periods of employment (beginning on October 1, 2007) automatically certified and counted towards the program.

Bill 118 s 2949, also known as the Ensuring Military Access to Higher Education Benefits Act of 2023, aims to provide greater access to higher education benefits for members of the military. The bill seeks to address the challenges that many service members face in utilizing their education benefits, such as the GI Bill, due to various barriers and restrictions.

One key provision of the bill is the establishment of a streamlined process for service members to access their education benefits. This includes simplifying the application process and reducing bureaucratic red tape that often hinders service members from utilizing their benefits in a timely manner.

Additionally, the bill aims to expand the types of educational programs that service members can use their benefits for, including vocational and technical training programs. This is intended to provide service members with more options for pursuing education and training that align with their career goals and interests. Furthermore, the bill includes provisions to improve outreach and education efforts to ensure that service members are aware of the benefits available to them and how to access them. This includes increasing resources for counseling and support services to help service members navigate the complexities of the education benefits system. Overall, the Ensuring Military Access to Higher Education Benefits Act of 2023 seeks to remove barriers and improve access to education benefits for members of the military, ultimately helping them to further their education and advance their careers upon returning to civilian life.
Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedA bill to require the Secretary of Defense to complete a data matching agreement with the Secretary of Education in order to ensure individuals who are current or former active-duty military service members or civilian employees and are otherwise eligible for assistance under the public service loan forgiveness program have their periods of employment automatically certified and counted towards the public service loan forgiveness program.
Policy Areas
Armed Forces and National Security
Potential Impact
Department of Defense•
Department of Education•
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management•
Government lending and loan guarantees•
Higher education•
Military personnel and dependents•
Student aid and college costs•
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Comments

APPROVED
SB
Summer Barnes
@camphor_marjoram_tomintoul52415
This bill gonna make it harder for me to get my education benefits. It say it help military folks, but it gonna take away from others like me. Not fair at all. This gonna hurt us in the long run.

Recent Activity

Latest Summary11/9/2023

Ensuring Military Access to Higher Education Benefits Act of 2023

This bill requires the Department of Defense to complete a data matching agreement with the Department of Education to ensure that current or former active-duty milit...

Latest Action9/17/2024
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.