Blumenthal Applauds Unanimous Senate Passage of Comprehensive G.I. Bill Reforms

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal applauded the unanimous Senate passage of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, legislation to improve veterans’ education benefits and enhance the post-9/11 G.I. Bill. Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, joined Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT) as an original cosponsor of the bill.

“The unanimous passage of this comprehensive GI Bill reform legislation is a great victory for our student veterans and their family members,” said Blumenthal. “This bill will ensure the protection and expansion of critical veterans’ education benefits to reservists, surviving family members, and Purple Heart recipients, in addition to restoring education benefits to student veterans who lost entitlement after recent school closures. The reclaiming of education benefits will make a world of difference for student veterans, enabling them to more smoothly transition into civilian life and achieve their educational goals.”  

 The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act invests in the proven educational success of our veterans and helps propel them toward becoming our nation’s civic, business and public leaders. The comprehensive legislation includes a provision based on legislation Blumenthal introduced to restore education benefits to veterans who lost Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement after recent school closures, including the abrupt closures of Corinthian Colleges and ITT Technical Institutes.

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act also makes much-needed updates for reservists, Purple Heart recipients, and surviving family members and eliminates the arbitrary 15-year period within which a veteran is required to use their G.I. Bill so they can use their benefits at any time in their professional career. Most significantly, this bill recognizes our country’s need for an agile and adaptable workforce and that American workers need to be lifelong learners.