Schatz, Rounds reintroduce bill protecting veterans’ education benefits

U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) have reintroduced the Student Veterans Transparency and Protection Act.

The bipartisan legislation would improve veterans’ access to information about higher education and allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to restore benefits that veterans use at schools subject to civil enforcement.

“The G.I. Bill benefit has helped open the doors to higher education for many veterans who otherwise would not be able to access it. But bad actors in the education community have taken advantage of those who have served, robbing them of the full value of their education benefits,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.

“Our bill will ensure that veterans who have been deceived are able to recoup their benefits. It will also help veterans learn more about different schools and their benefits so that they have the information they need to find the right program,” Schatz continued.

Along with providing Department of Veterans Affairs the ability to reinstate benefits used at schools, the bill requires Veterans Affairs to provide veterans up-to-date student outcome and financial information for all eligible institutions through its G.I. Bill Comparison Tool, and it requires all Veterans Affairs education counselors to be trained in using this tool to help beneficiaries so that veterans can make the best choices about where to use their education benefits.