Ranking Member Walz Examines Bipartisan Legislation To Improve & Extend G.I. Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after the Committee met in open session to examine the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, a bill that will improve and extend G.I. Bill benefits granted to veterans, their surviving spouses and dependents.
The hearing comes less than a week after Ranking Member Walz and Chairman Phil Roe (R-TN) introduced the bipartisan legislation, which was cosponsored by every Republican and Democratic Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Additionally, the legislation was applauded by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee leaders Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT). The bill also earned unanimous support from our nation’s veterans service organizations (VSOs).
“Once again, our Committee has proven to be one of the most productive and bipartisan committees in the whole U.S. Congress,” Rep. Walz said. “Thanks to the hard work of each of our Members, Democrat and Republican alike, as well as our nation’s well respected VSOs, we have so far been successful in our efforts to expand and extend one of the most significant pieces of legislation ever passed in the history of the United States Congress: the G.I. Bill.”
“The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 will continue the legacy of the original G.I. Bill as it serves as the foundation upon which future generations of servicemembers returning from battle will build not just their educations but their entire civilian lives. This bipartisan legislation will improve the lives of future generations of veterans by enhancing existing benefits, correcting current gaps in eligibility, and providing new benefits to help our veterans in today’s economy without asking our troops or American taxpayers to pay more.”
“I want to thank Chairman Roe, each Member of the Committee, and our well-respected veterans service organizations (VSOs) for their help in crafting this legislation and for their commitment to our nation’s veterans and military families.”
WITNESS LIST
Panel 1
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
U.S. House of Representatives
23rd Congressional District; California
The Honorable Mark Takano
U.S. House of Representatives
41st Congressional District; California
The Honorable Gus Bilirakis
U.S. House of Representatives
12th Congressional District; Florida
The Honorable Scott Peters
U.S. House of Representatives
52nd Congressional District; California
The Honorable Mike Coffman
U.S. House of Representatives
6th Congressional District; Colorado
The Honorable Brad Wenstrup
U.S. House of Representatives
2nd Congressional District; Ohio
The Honorable John Rutherford
U.S. House of Representatives
4th Congressional District; Florida
The Honorable Jim Banks
U.S. House of Representatives
3rd Congressional District; Indiana
The Honorable Luke Messer
U.S. House of Representatives
6th Congressional District; Indiana
The Honorable Paul Cook
U.S. House of Representatives
8th Congressional District; California
The Honorable Raúl Labrador
U.S. House of Representatives
1st Congressional District; Idaho
Panel 2
Mr. Curtis L. Coy
Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity
Veterans Benefits Administration
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Accompanied by:
Mr. James Ruhlman
Assistant Director for Policy and Procedures
Education Service
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Patrick D. Murray
Associate Director
National Legislative Service
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
Mr. William Hubbard
Vice President of Government Affairs
Student Veterans of America
Mr. John Kamin
Assistant Director
Veteran Employment and Education
The American Legion
Ms. Ashlynne Haycock
Senior Coordinator
Education Support Services
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
Statements for the Record
The Honorable David McKinley
U.S. House of Representatives
1st Congressional District; West Virginia
The Honorable Markwayne Mullin
U.S. House of Representatives
2nd Congressional District; Oklahoma
The Honorable Tim Ryan
U.S. House of Representatives
13th Congressional District; Ohio
The Honorable Susan Brooks
U.S. House of Representatives
5th Congressional District; Indiana
Military Order of the Purple Heart
National Guard Association of the United States
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