[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 7, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H1124-H1125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




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

  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 502) 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, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 502

       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 ``November 14, 
     2031'' each place it appears and inserting ``November 28, 
     2031''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
H.R. 502, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Representative Banks' bill, 
H.R. 502, as amended. I am pleased to support Representative Banks' 
bill to ensure that all servicemembers who have paid into the GI Bill 
are properly repaid. This bill would close the financial loophole that 
prevents at least 25,000 Active-Duty servicemembers from receiving the 
repayments they are due.
  Under current law, a servicemember who switches from Montgomery to 
the Post-9/11 GI Bill would lose $1,200 that 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.
  Representative Banks' bill would fix this policy to ensure that 
servicemembers and veterans who are pursuing a higher education degree 
are treated equally.
  Servicemembers have earned this benefit by protecting our country. 
They should not be short changed just because they are getting an 
education while still on Active Duty.
  This bill would include a short-term extension of VA home loan 
funding fees to fully offset the cost of this bill.
  I thank The American Legion for bringing this problem to our 
attention. I also thank Congressman Banks for reintroducing this 
important bill that will make a big difference for thousands of Active-
Duty servicemen and -women.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 502, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 502, 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 their early days of 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 
that the veteran is repaid, no questions asked.
  The bill is fully offset, and it is supported by the veterans service 
organizations community, including by Student Veterans of America.
  I thank Representative Banks for his work on this legislation and the 
VSO community for bringing this issue to our committee. We were able to 
pass this legislation under the House last fall, but unfortunately, the 
Senate was unable to consider it. That is why I am thankful we can 
consider this bill early in 2023, giving our colleagues in the Senate 
plenty of time to complete it. No disrespect to the Senate, Mr. 
Speaker.
  I urge the rest of my colleagues to support this legislation to 
ensure no veteran loses out on what is owed to them, and I certainly 
hope that Members of the House who aspire to be Senators will remember 
what it is like to be a House Member and make sure this never happens 
again.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Banks), the sponsor of this legislation.

[[Page H1125]]

  

  Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding, and I 
appreciate his leadership on all issues related to our veterans in this 
great country. I appreciate the comments from the ranking member, as 
well, and his leadership of this committee over the last few years, 
too.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is simple. It closes an unintentional 
loophole in the law that hurts many of our Nation's veterans. It would 
equalize the treatment of servicemembers and veterans who paid into the 
Montgomery GI Bill, or the MGIB, but later used the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
  Presently, veterans may choose between the MGIB and the Post-9/11 GI 
Bill, both of which help pay for their education.
  The MGIB requires a $100 monthly fee for the first 12 months of 
Active Duty. The quirk is that $1,200 is then refunded to 
servicemembers only as an attachment to their housing allowance. For 
veterans who do not receive a housing allowance from the VA, they also 
haven't been receiving the $1,200 that they are entitled to.
  This is a complicated issue that no one ever intended to happen, but 
this bill closes the loophole by directing the VA to make the repayment 
before the servicemember exhausts their education assistance.
  I appreciate the support for the bill. I hope that the people's House 
will pass it today so that we can fix this unintentional problem and do 
something important to help our veterans.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me to pass H.R. 502, 
as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support 
this legislation. I also want to join with the ranking member in 
telling the Senate that this is a really good bill and that they should 
take it up right away. We want to encourage them to do that.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 502, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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