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S. 844Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

GI Bill Fairness Act of 2017

Sponsored by Ron WydenSen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Introduced April 5, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 2:40 PM UTC

The GI Bill Fairness Act of 2017 changes how the law counts certain service time for reserve component members. It makes any period a reservist spends receiving medical care from the Secretary of Defense count as active‑duty time when determining eligibility for Post‑9/11 educational benefits. This expands GI Bill eligibility to include those who were medically treated while not on active orders.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new category (12301 h) to the list of active‑duty periods in 38 U.S.C. §3301(1)(B).
  • Treats time spent receiving medical care from the Secretary of Defense as active duty for the purpose of qualifying for Post‑9/11 Educational Assistance.
  • Applies the change retroactively, as if it had been enacted right after the 2008 Post‑9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
SenateCommittee Latest Action

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-215.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

June 15, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

April 5, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

April 5, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-215.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

June 15, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued April 5, 2017

II

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 844

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 5 (legislative day, April 4), 2017

Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mr. Boozman, and Mr. Markey) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to consider certain time spent by members of reserve components of the Armed Forces while receiving medical care from the Secretary of Defense as active duty for purposes of eligibility for Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

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

2.

Consideration of certain time spent receiving medical care from Secretary of Defense as active duty for purposes of eligibility for Post-9/11 Educational Assistance

(a)

In general

Section 3301(1)(B) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting 12301(h), after 12301(g),.

(b)

Retroactive application

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply as if such amendment were enacted immediately after the enactment of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–252).