To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made by such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5918) to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made by such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 5918, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5918, as amended, legislation to ensure veterans can recoup the money they paid into the Montgomery GI Bill.

Under current law, veterans who do not fully access their Montgomery GI Bill can lose out on the payments they made into the program, in some cases totaling up to $1,200.

The Montgomery GI Bill is in the process of being phased out for the more generous Forever GI Bill. Many veterans may not remember the $1,200 they paid into the program in the early days of their service or even be aware that they are entitled to a refund of the unused funds.

The process to reclaim that $1,200 can be difficult, and there are times when the veteran can simply lose out on the money because they waited too long. This legislation eliminates that cumbersome process by making it so the veteran is repaid, no questions asked.

The bill is fully offset and supported by the veterans service organization community, including by Student Veterans of America.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Banks) for his work on this legislation and the VSO community for bringing this issue to our committee. I urge the rest of my colleagues to support this legislation to ensure no veteran loses out on what is owed to them.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 5918, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5918, as amended. This bill would close a financial loophole affecting many servicemembers.

Last Congress, I was proud to support General Bergman's efforts to responsibly sunset the Montgomery GI Bill, and today I am pleased to support Congressman Banks' bill to ensure that those servicemembers who paid into the program are repaid.

Under current law, servicemembers who switch from Montgomery to the Post-9/11 GI Bill would lose about $1,200 they paid into the program, if they exhausted their benefits while still on Active Duty. Veterans who exhaust their benefits already receive the $1,200 back. This bill would fix this loophole and treat servicemembers and veterans equally.

Servicemembers earned the benefits and should not be shortchanged just because they are still on Active Duty. This bill would include a short-term extension of the VA home loan funding fees to fully offset the cost of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I thank the American Legion for bringing this problem to our attention, and I also thank Congressman Banks for introducing this important bill.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.