[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8883]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   VETERANS EDUCATION FLEXIBILITY ACT

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, the original GI Bill was one of the most 
significant pieces of legislation in American history. It is 
responsible for providing education to a generation of veterans--the 
right to rise--and it transformed our Nation's economy from an 
industrial-based economy to a knowledge-based economy.
  Unfortunately, the GI Bill today sets forth limits for using these 
educational benefits. After leaving service, many veterans must 
postpone further education to support families or are unable to work 
due to lengthy rehabilitation from service-related injuries.
  GI Bill benefits should not come with an expiration date. We should 
provide our veterans greater flexibility. That's why I've introduced 
the Veterans Education Flexibility Act. This legislation would remove 
the expiration date for veterans in order for them to take advantage of 
the GI Bill's educational benefits, and it would retroactively restore 
benefits to individuals whose benefits have already expired.
  Mr. Speaker, caring for our veterans is more than thanking them for 
their service. On behalf of a good and generous Nation, we must restore 
the promise to and the potential of every returning veteran.

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