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H.R. 2108House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

GI Bill STEM Extension Act of 2017

Sponsored by David B. McKinleyRep. David B. McKinley (R-WV)
Introduced April 20, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 2:47 PM UTC

The GI Bill STEM Extension Act of 2017 adds a new benefit to the Post‑9/11 Educational Assistance Program. It lets veterans who have already used all of their regular GI Bill entitlement receive a one‑time payment to help finish longer degree programs in science, technology, engineering, math, health, or related teaching fields. The payment is limited to either nine months of the standard benefit or $30,000, whichever is lower, and the program is capped at $100 million per fiscal year.

Key Provisions

  • Eligibility applies to veterans who have exhausted their existing GI Bill benefits and are enrolled in a program requiring more than the standard 128 semester (or 192 quarter) credit hours in specified STEM, health, or related fields, or who have a degree in those fields and are pursuing teacher certification.
  • When selecting recipients, the Secretary gives priority to those needing the most credit hours and to veterans entitled to benefits under certain service‑connected criteria.
  • Each eligible veteran receives a lump‑sum payment equal to the lesser of nine months of the normal benefit amount or $30,000, adjusted as required by existing benefit formulas.
  • The additional benefit cannot be transferred to another person under the existing transfer provisions.
  • The total amount of these new benefits may not exceed $100 million in any fiscal year.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

April 20, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 20, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

Economic Opportunity Subcommittee

April 20, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

April 20, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 20, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2108

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 20, 2017

Mr. McKinley (for himself, Ms. Sinema, and Ms. Titus) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide additional educational assistance benefits under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs to certain eligible individuals.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the GI Bill STEM Extension Act of 2017.

2.

Additional educational assistance under Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of Department of Veterans Affairs

(a)

In general

Subchapter II of chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

3320.

Additional benefits

(a)

In general

Subject to the limitation under subsection (f), the Secretary shall provide additional benefits to eligible individuals selected by the Secretary under this section.

(b)

Eligibility

For purposes of this section, an eligible individual is an individual—

(1)

who is or was entitled to educational assistance under section 3311 of this title;

(2)

who has used all of the educational assistance to which the individual is entitled under this chapter;

(3)

who applies for assistance under this section; and

(4)

who—

(A)

is enrolled in a program of education leading to a post-secondary degree that requires more than the standard 128 semester (or 192 quarter) credit hours for completion in—

(i)

biological or biomedical science;

(ii)

physical science;

(iii)

science technologies or technicians;

(iv)

computer and information science and support services;

(v)

mathematics or statistics;

(vi)

engineering;

(vii)

engineering technologies or an engineering-related field;

(viii)

a health profession or related program; or

(ix)

a medical residency program; or

(B)

has earned a post-secondary degree in a field referred to in subparagraph (A) and is enrolled in a program of education leading to a teaching certification.

(c)

Priority

In selecting eligible individuals to receive additional benefits under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to the following individuals:

(1)

Individuals who require the most credit hours described in subsection (b)(4).

(2)

Individuals who are entitled to educational assistance under this chapter by reason of paragraph (1) or (2) of section 3311(b) of this title.

(d)

Amount of assistance

The Secretary shall pay to each eligible individual who receives additional benefits under this section a one-time, lump sum payment that is the lesser of the following amounts (adjusted with respect to the individual pursuant to paragraphs (2) through (7) of section 3313(c), as appropriate):

(1)

The amount payable under section 3313 of this title for nine months of the program of education in which the individual is enrolled.

(2)

$30,000.

(e)

Prohibition on transfer

An individual who receives additional benefits under this section may not transfer any amount of such additional benefits under section 3319 of this title.

(f)

Maximum amount of total assistance

The total amount of benefits paid to all eligible individuals under this section may not exceed $100,000,000 for any fiscal year.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3319 the following new item:

3320. Additional benefits.

.