[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 28, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8184-H8185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AMENDING TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE, TO ENSURE THAT THE SECRETARY OF 
    VETERANS AFFAIRS REPAYS MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES FOR CERTAIN 
   CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY SUCH MEMBERS TOWARDS POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL 
                               ASSISTANCE

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5918) to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces 
for certain contributions made by such members towards Post-9/11 
Educational Assistance, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5918

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REPAYMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES FOR 
                   CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL 
                   ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Section 3327(f)(3) of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended by striking ``together'' and all that 
     follows through ``(as applicable),''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on August 1, 2023.

     SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN HOUSING LOAN FEES.

       The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by striking ``January 14, 
     2031'' each place it appears and inserting ``January 28, 
     2031''.

     SEC. 3. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

       The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
     complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall 
     be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
     ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, 
     submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the 
     Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such 
     statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

  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.

[[Page H8185]]

  



                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
insert extraneous material on H.R. 5918, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5918, as amended, 
legislation to ensure veterans can recoup the money they paid into the 
Montgomery GI Bill.
  Under current law, veterans who do not fully access their Montgomery 
GI Bill can lose out on the payments they made into the program, in 
some cases totaling up to $1,200.
  The Montgomery GI Bill is in the process of being phased out for the 
more generous Forever GI Bill. Many veterans may not remember the 
$1,200 they paid into the program in the early days of their service or 
even be aware that they are entitled to a refund of the unused funds.
  The process to reclaim that $1,200 can be difficult, and there are 
times when the veteran can simply lose out on the money because they 
waited too long. This legislation eliminates that cumbersome process by 
making it so the veteran is repaid, no questions asked.
  The bill is fully offset and supported by the veterans service 
organization community, including by Student Veterans of America.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Banks) for his 
work on this legislation and the VSO community for bringing this issue 
to our committee. I urge the rest of my colleagues to support this 
legislation to ensure no veteran loses out on what is owed to them.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5918, as amended. This 
bill would close a financial loophole affecting many servicemembers.
  Last Congress, I was proud to support General Bergman's efforts to 
responsibly sunset the Montgomery GI Bill, and today I am pleased to 
support Congressman Banks' bill to ensure that those servicemembers who 
paid into the program are repaid.
  Under current law, servicemembers who switch from Montgomery to the 
Post-9/11 GI Bill would lose about $1,200 they paid into the program, 
if they exhausted their benefits while still on Active Duty. Veterans 
who exhaust their benefits already receive the $1,200 back. This bill 
would fix this loophole and treat servicemembers and veterans equally.
  Servicemembers earned the benefits and should not be shortchanged 
just because they are still on Active Duty. This bill would include a 
short-term extension of the VA home loan funding fees to fully offset 
the cost of this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the American Legion for bringing this problem 
to our attention, and I also thank Congressman Banks for introducing 
this important bill.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in 
passing H.R. 5918, as amended, 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, H.R. 5918, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions 
made by such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, and for 
other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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