[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 198 (Monday, November 15, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H6255-H6257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COLONEL JOHN M. McHUGH TUITION FAIRNESS FOR SURVIVORS ACT OF 2021
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S.
[[Page H6256]]
1095) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the
disapproval by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of courses of
education offered by public institutions of higher learning that do not
charge veterans the in-State tuition rate for purposes of Survivors'
and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 1095
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Colonel John M. McHugh
Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DISAPPROVAL OF COURSES
OFFERED BY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER
LEARNING THAT DO NOT CHARGE VETERANS THE IN-
STATE TUITION RATE FOR PURPOSES OF SURVIVORS'
AND DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 3679(c) of title 38, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or 33'' and inserting
``33, or 35'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(D) An individual who is entitled to assistance under
section 3510 of this title.''; and
(3) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and 33'' and inserting
``33, and 35''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3679(e) of such title
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or 33'' and
inserting ``, 33, or 35''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``or 33'' and
inserting ``33, or 35''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or 33'' and inserting
``33, or 35''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and
shall apply with respect to an academic period that begins on
or after August 1, 2022.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
to insert extraneous material on S. 1095.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1095, the Colonel John M.
McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act.
This bill codifies an important protection for beneficiaries using
the Department of Veterans Affairs Survivors' and Dependents'
Educational Assistance Program, or DEA. Through the DEA program, VA
helps cover the cost of a beneficiary's school or job training.
This bill requires that public institutions of higher learning only
charge in-State tuition for those utilizing the DEA program.
There are currently over 150,000 beneficiaries utilizing the DEA
program. These beneficiaries are the survivors of brave women and men
who died serving our country and the dependents of 100 percent service-
connected disabled veterans.
Currently, this benefit equates to about $11,000 a year for most
students. With the increasing costs of higher education, $11,000 does
not cover all of a beneficiary's tuition costs at most schools,
including public institutions where the student beneficiary would be
considered out-of-State.
{time} 1730
S. 1095 would provide parity for students using the DEA program with
the Forever GI Bill program by requiring public institutions to charge
in-State tuition for student veterans. This legislation has the strong
endorsement of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer for
bringing this legislation to the floor, and I urge the rest of my
colleagues to support this legislation to ensure the survivors and
dependents of those who bravely serve our country are not hindered by
tuition costs when pursuing their education.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1095, the Colonel John M. McHugh
Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act of 2021. This bill would expand the
in-State tuition requirements to dependents and survivors of eligible
veterans through the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance,
or the DEA program.
The DEA program provides $1,224 a month in tax-free benefits directly
to the eligible participants to help cover the costs of higher
education or training.
Dependents are eligible for this program if the veteran died while on
Active Duty, is a former prisoner of war, or has a permanent and total
service-connected disability rating or dies from a service-connected
disability.
By expanding the in-State tuition requirements, we will make it
easier for DEA participants to complete their studies without
additional debt.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the bill is named in honor of Colonel
John McHugh. Colonel McHugh was killed in action on May 18, 2010, by a
suicide bomber in Afghanistan after serving his country for 24 years.
This bill honors his sacrifice.
I thank Senator Moran, ranking member of the Senate Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, as well as Congressman Moore, for their hard work in
crafting this commonsense piece of legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support S. 1095, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Alabama (Mr. Moore), my friend.
Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of the
Senate version of my bill, the Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness
for Survivors Act.
Members of our military and their families sacrifice so much in
service to our country. As a grateful Nation, we have accepted a
responsibility to ensure that the educational needs of the survivors
and dependents of our fallen heroes are provided for.
The Dependents Educational Assistance program currently provides
$1,224 a month to eligible participants to help cover the costs of
higher education. The program is available for survivors, dependents of
certain servicemembers who died on Active Duty, or later found to be
100 percent service-connected disabled or died in a service-connected
disability.
The Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act would
expand the DEA program benefits, requiring GI Bill eligible schools to
extend in-State tuition benefits to beneficiaries of the Dependents
Educational Assistance Program, bringing the rules for this program in
line with the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
It is fitting that this bill bears the name of U.S. Army Colonel John
McHugh. Colonel McHugh was tragically killed 11 years ago by a roadside
bomb in Afghanistan. The loved ones left behind by this fallen hero
have suffered unimaginable pain. The least we can do for his family and
others like him is to honor our commitment to them and ensure their
education is affordable. Colonel McHugh's family resides in my
southeast Alabama district in Enterprise. It gives me great pride to
name this bill in honor of the Colonel McHugh's legacy.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation is a commonsense solution to help our
heroes' families meet their higher education goals. I urge my
colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support
this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in
passing S. 1095, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 1095.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
[[Page H6257]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
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