Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2008

To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the basic educational assistance program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

4/2/2008--Introduced.
Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program for veterans to:
(1) increase the rates of basic educational assistance and the time limit for entitlement to and use of such assistance;
<b>(2) provide a stipend for individuals using such assistance to pursue a program of education at an institution of higher learning;
(3) extend the period for the collection of a fee for the use of such assistance;
(4) authorize the use of such assistance for business courses and seminars, courses taken to prepare for licensing or certification tests, and the repayment of federal student loans;
(5) allow for withdrawal of the election not to enroll in the program;
(6) state that such assistance shall not reduce eligibility for other financial aid;
(7) extend the increase in benefits for certain individuals pursuing apprenticeships or on-job training;
(8) modify the amount for reimbursement of state and local agencies administering veterans' education benefits;
(9) provide educational assistance for veterans discharged under a general discharge;
(10) increase the reporting fee payable to educational institutions that enroll veterans receiving assistance;
(11) provide additional areas of work-study for veterans;
(12) require a five-year pilot program for on-campus work-study positions;
(13) increase the number of employees in the Education Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA);
(14) require an action plan for upgrading VA information technology used in the administration of educational benefits; and
(15) modify the advance payment of initial educational assistance or subsistence allowance.


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Sponsor

• Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin [D, SD-0]
• and 59 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Thomas Allen [D, ME-1]
  • Rep. Joe Baca [D, CA-43]
  • Rep. Roscoe Bartlett [R, MD-6]
  • Rep. Shelley Berkley [D, NV-1]
  • Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D, OR-3]
  • Rep. John Boozman [R, AR-3]
  • Rep. Madeleine Bordallo [D, GU-0]
  • Rep. Leonard Boswell [D, IA-3]
  • Rep. F. Allen Boyd [D, FL-2]
  • Rep. Nancy Boyda [D, KS-2]
  • Rep. Corrine Brown [D, FL-3]
  • Rep. Henry Brown [R, SC-1]
  • Rep. Stephen Buyer [R, IN-4]
  • Rep. Michael Capuano [D, MA-8]
  • Rep. Russ Carnahan [D, MO-3]
  • Rep. Jim Costa [D, CA-20]
  • Rep. Henry Cuellar [D, TX-28]
  • Rep. Diana DeGette [D, CO-1]
  • Rep. William Delahunt [D, MA-10]
  • Rep. Lloyd Doggett [D, TX-25]
  • Rep. Joe Donnelly [D, IN-2]
  • Rep. David Dreier [R, CA-26]
  • Rep. Eni Faleomavaega [D, AS-0]
  • Rep. Luis Fortuno [R, PR-0]
  • Rep. Jim Gerlach [R, PA-6]
  • Rep. Virgil Goode [R, VA-5]
  • Rep. Robert Goodlatte [R, VA-6]
  • Rep. Raul Grijalva [D, AZ-7]
  • Rep. Dean Heller [R, NV-2]
  • Rep. Rubén Hinojosa [D, TX-15]
  • Rep. Kenny Hulshof [R, MO-9]
  • Rep. Henry Johnson [D, GA-4]
  • Rep. Eddie Johnson [D, TX-30]
  • Rep. Ron Klein [D, FL-22]
  • Rep. John Kline [R, MN-2]
  • Rep. Thomas Latham [R, IA-4]
  • Rep. John Lewis [D, GA-5]
  • Rep. Betty McCollum [D, MN-4]
  • Rep. James McGovern [D, MA-3]
  • Rep. John McHugh [R, NY-23]
  • Rep. Mike McIntyre [D, NC-7]
  • Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers [R, WA-5]
  • Rep. Jerry McNerney [D, CA-11]
  • Rep. Michael Michaud [D, ME-2]
  • Rep. Dennis Moore [D, KS-3]
  • Rep. Jerry Moran [R, KS-1]
  • Rep. Donald Payne [D, NJ-10]
  • Rep. Collin Peterson [D, MN-7]
  • Rep. Silvestre Reyes [D, TX-16]
  • Rep. Ciro Rodriguez [D, TX-23]
  • Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [R, FL-18]
  • Rep. Mike Ross [D, AR-4]
  • Rep. John Salazar [D, CO-3]
  • Rep. Brad Sherman [D, CA-27]
  • Rep. Zackary Space [D, OH-18]
  • Rep. Edolphus Towns [D, NY-10]
  • Rep. Peter Welch [D, VT-0]
  • Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D, CA-6]
  • Rep. Donald Young [R, AK-0]
  close

Committees

• House Veterans' Affairs
• 2 more
  • House Veterans' Affairs
  • House Education and Labor
  close

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.5684

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
April 02, 2008

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All Bill Actions

• Added to calendar on Apr 30, 2008: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote..
• Apr 30, 2008: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
• Apr 23, 2008: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
• Apr 23, 2008: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
• Apr 16, 2008: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
• Apr 04, 2008: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
• Apr 02, 2008: Referred to House Education and Labor
• Apr 02, 2008: Referred to House Veterans' Affairs
• Apr 02, 2008: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• Introduced on Apr 02, 2008.

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In the News

May 04, 2008 Montgomery GI Bill replacement plans differ

... crafted and will seem generous in comparison to a more basic MGIB reform bill, HR 5684, which the House Veterans Affairs Committee endorsed on April 29. ...

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Source: Montgomery Advertiser, AL

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May 01, 2008 Military Update: In battle over GI Bills, Webb still holds high ground

... crafted and will seem generous in comparison to a more basic MGIB reform bill, HR 5684, which the House Veterans Affairs Committee endorsed April 29th. ...

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Source: Stars and Stripes, DC

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April 30, 2008 Action slows on vets’ benefits upgrades

The bill, HR 5684, would raise active-duty GI Bill benefits to $1450 a month, up from the current $1101 payment; pay a $500 monthly stipend for living ...

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Source: NavyTimes.com, VA

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Blog Coverage

September 15, 2008 townhall

Union Overruled: Teacher Can Send Dues to Charity (Evergreen Freedom Foundation) FreedomWorks ?Key-Votes? HR 5684, the US-Oman Free Trade Implementation Act (FreedomWorks) Hairbraiders secede from cosmetology regime ...

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Source: TIM BLAIR: BLOGGER SEATTLE, WASHINGTON...

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May 16, 2008 CONGRESSMAN BROWN FIGHTS FOR TROOPS

Brown is also a co-sponsor of HR 5684, the Veterans Education Improvement Act, which passed the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee unanimously, of which he is a member. ###

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Source: SCHotline Press Releases

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April 29, 2008 Bill Action: Scheduled for Debate: HR 5684: Veterans Education ...

This bill has been added to a schedule of legislation to be considered for debate, or has been recommended by a committee to be considered. [This event matched these trackers: Active Legislation (Except New Bills) ]

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Source: Active Legislation (Except New Bills) --...

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