[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 19, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E212-E213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE STUDENT VETERAN FINANCIAL AID FAIRNESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HARRY E. MITCHELL

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 19, 2008

  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam Speaker, earlier today I introduced the Student 
Veteran Financial Aid Fairness Act, a bill to exempt service-connected 
education benefits from being figured into a veteran's financial aid 
needs.
  This Congress has made education one of its top priorities. Last 
session, I proudly supported the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, 
which lowers student loan interest rates and increases Pell grants. 
This is an important step toward making a higher education affordable 
for all students. I was happy to see the President sign it into law.
  Just last week, we continued our commitment to make a higher 
education more affordable by passing the College Opportunity and 
Affordability Act. Again, I proudly supported this legislation and was 
particularly pleased to support the important resources it provides for 
student veterans.
  As a Member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have spoken 
to many veterans from my home State of Arizona and all around the 
country. These veterans have told me about the difficulties they face 
in readjusting to civilian life and they have consistently told me that 
the college environment is a good way to ease that transition.
  Many student veterans are under different pressures than their non-
veteran peers in college. Some have families of their own, some have 
full-time jobs, and most are a good deal older than the other students 
on campus. Additionally, many veterans, especially from the wars in 
Iraq and Afghanistan, are coping with injuries like post traumatic 
stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
  And making matters worse, the rising cost of higher education is 
making it more difficult for veterans to go to college.
  We promised a higher education to our servicemembers when they joined 
and it is our responsibility to see that they get it when they become 
veterans.
  This is not the case, right now. When a veteran applies for financial 
aid using the FAFSA,

[[Page E213]]

their G.I. Bill benefits are considered resources, which are then 
counted against the amount of aid they can receive. My bill would fix 
that problem and ensure that the G.I. Bill is used as intended, a 
benefit for military service, as opposed to a means to reduce the 
amount of student aid our veterans can receive.
  The current law prevents student veterans from taking full advantage 
of Stafford and Perkins Loans, Pell Grants, and Federal Work-study. I 
believe it is critical that we continue to fight for college 
affordability, especially when it comes to providing for our veterans.
  I think it is wrong to judge the needs of our veterans with the same 
standard as other students without military service.
  I know Mr. Filner, the Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs 
Committee, has made it a priority to reform the G.I. Bill this session, 
but in the mean time, it is important that we work together as a 
Congress to fix this financial aid problem.

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