[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 30 (Thursday, February 15, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTRODUCTION OF THE FACILITATING VETERANS' EDUCATION ACT

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                          HON. J. LUIS CORREA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 15, 2018

  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Defense provides 
exceptional training and experiences to our nation's servicemembers. 
For each occupation in the military, servicemembers undergo a series of 
formal military training courses.
  For years, the American Council on Education (ACE) has evaluated that 
training and related experiences to provide colleges and universities 
with guidelines and recommendations to consider when awarding credit 
for such training. For instance, ACE may recommend that colleges award 
one semester credit hour of first aid for a soldier who has taken basic 
combat training.
  Since 2013, the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard have 
produced the Joint Services Transcript (JST), an official documentation 
of a servicemember's military training and their corresponding ACE 
credit recommendations. The JST allows veterans to earn college credit 
for their military service, helping them attain a college degree 
sooner.
  While the document is available through an online portal, there are 
reports of servicemembers leaving the military unaware of the JST.
  Therefore, I am introducing the bipartisan Facilitating Veterans' 
Education Act, which directs the Department of Defense to issue the 
Joint Services Transcript to servicemembers separating from the Armed 
Forces.

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