Where do you stand?

house Bill H.R. 4830

Should Vets Get a 90-Day Grace Period From Colleges When GI Bill Funds Are Delayed?

Argument in favor

Minor delays in funding should not affect veterans’ educations and ability to use their GI bill benefits. In this case, occasional delays in the receipt of VA funds are not indicative of ineligibility or inability to pay; so the fact that some educational institutions do not allow a grace period while VA funds are pending seems nonsensical.

Chickie's Opinion

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05/21/2018

Unfortunately, this bill is necessary. The under staffing and mismanagement at the VA offices is an acute problem. Many of our veterans are working either full time or part time and cannot afford to delay their progress in higher education due to issues at the VA. Our veterans did not delay in their duty while serving due to administration issues; they deserve the same when using the benefits earned from their service.

Like (61)

OlderNWiser's Opinion

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05/21/2018

Yes, of course, and I would add that everyone deserves this 90 day grace period to pay for college since reimbursements from everywhere can be so delayed. I ended up using my credit card to pay for my Masters waiting for partial reimbursement from my employer. Imagine how financially catastrophic it is to run up credit card debt for education. Our military and their families serve our country every one—mothers and children in military families sacrifice more than imaginable—so of course these patriotic people deserve any available support. Thank them for their service.

Like (38)

Connor's Opinion

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05/21/2018

As a Air National Guard member and headed to Purdue for college, the GI bill pays for most of my tuition. I would like to have this as a fallback program just in case payments can not be made in time. There are already grace periods for paying back loans, why not for furthering one’s higher education?

Like (26)

Argument opposed

There is no reason why the VA should be funding GI bill education behind schedule; this bill is unnecessary as long as the VA meets educational institutions’ funding deadlines responsibly. Colleges shouldn’t be required to grant a grace period to veterans just because the VA doesn’t have its act together.

MIKAL's Opinion

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05/21/2018

WE the PEOPLE are REQUIRED to PAY OUR TAXES & BILLS ON TIME.... IT is no less INCUMBENT that our Gov’t does the same! IF OUR OWN GOV’T can NOT pay ONTIME, then we have a bigger mess in DC than we thought. THIS bill should not even be necessary. HOW about a BILL REQUIRING our Gov’t Depts to PAY ON-TIME with consequences of termination for leadership that fails to make sure it happens.

Like (27)

Jason's Opinion

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05/21/2018

Congress’s unwillingness to properly fund the VA is creating regulatory uncertainty in the markets that serves veterans. The correct solution is to ensure the VA can pay its obligations in a timely manner. Not to outsource congressional responsibilities to the private sector. Again.

Like (8)

Larry's Opinion

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05/21/2018

What is it about Congress that makes them want to dictate every tiny thing? This is between a college and it's students.

Like (5)

bill Progress

Not enacted
The President has not signed this bill
The senate has not voted
The house Passed May 21st, 2018
Roll Call Vote 382 Yea / 0 Nay
IntroducedJanuary 18th, 2018

Bill Activity

01/18/2018
action
Introduced in House
01/18/2018
referral
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
01/18/2018
referral
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
03/20/2018
action
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
04/11/2018
action
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
04/11/2018
action
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote .
05/08/2018
action
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
05/08/2018
calendar
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
05/21/2018
action
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-694.
05/21/2018
calendar
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 537.
05/21/2018
action
Mr. Dunn moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
05/21/2018
action
Considered under suspension of the rules.
05/21/2018
action
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4830.
05/21/2018
action
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
05/21/2018
action
Considered as unfinished business.
05/21/2018
vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 382 - 0 (Roll no. 207).
05/21/2018
action
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
05/22/2018
referral
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

bill Progress

Not enacted
The President has not signed this bill
The senate has not voted
The house Passed May 21st, 2018
Roll Call Vote 382 Yea / 0 Nay
IntroducedJanuary 18th, 2018

Bill Data

Issues

Committees

Economic Opportunity
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Sponsor

Rep Gus Bilirakis

(R - FL)

7 Cosponsors

Introduced 01/18/2018

Full text of Bill

Chickie's Opinion In Favor

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05/21/2018

Like (61)

MIKAL's Opinion Against

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05/21/2018

Like (27)

OlderNWiser's Opinion In Favor

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05/21/2018

Like (38)

Connor's Opinion In Favor

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05/21/2018

Like (26)

Jacqui's Opinion In Favor

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05/21/2018

Yes! Our Military men and women have served our country with honor and we need to honor them as they transition back into our communities. They have earned this benefit - and should not be penalized because bureaucracy is figuring out how to handle their end of the deal.

Like (8)

Jason's Opinion Against

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05/21/2018

Like (8)

Larry's Opinion Against

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05/21/2018

What is it about Congress that makes them want to dictate every tiny thing? This is between a college and it's students.

Like (5)

KitReads's Opinion In Favor

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05/21/2018

This should have been in place long ago.

Like (5)

David's Opinion In Favor

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05/21/2018

I used it, and know I would not have been able to finish my BA if the Vets program would not have been available when I needed it.

Like (4)

Anastasia's Opinion In Favor

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05/21/2018

Take care of our vets.

Like (3)

Nan's Opinion In Favor

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05/21/2018

They have done more for our country than most in government.. that they served is a good enough reason

Like (3)

Dave's Opinion In Favor

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05/21/2018

This country only pays weak lip service towards taking care of our veterans. This would be one tiny step in the right direction.

Like (3)

Catherine's Opinion In Favor

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05/21/2018

This is a common issue with the VA and although it needs to be addressed there as well it’s difficult to transfer this money and it wouldn’t be the vets who suffer

Like (3)

Therese's Opinion In Favor

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05/21/2018

It's hard enough to go to school. Let alone have your semesters or quarters interrupted because of government inadequacy. The goal is educated veterans. Let the VA pay a fine for late payment on its contract to pay tuition.

Like (3)

Mindful's Opinion In Favor

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05/21/2018

Bureaucratic Red Tape-should not delay Veterans from benefiting from due financial aid.

Like (3)

Tom's Opinion In Favor

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05/21/2018

Ninety days seems to be only a token regarding the sacrifices made. There should be no limitation.

Like (3)

Randy's Opinion In Favor

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05/21/2018

It’s not the Vets fault!!!

Like (3)

DougMinks's Opinion In Favor

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11/28/2018

What a stupid question. Do whatever we need to do to make Veterans’ lives stellar. Anything other than that is not doing what we can do to help and work with them and their transition. They’ve been through Hell & back, some of them what’s 90 days?

Like (3)