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.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 502) 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, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 502, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Representative Banks' bill, H.R. 502, as amended. I am pleased to support Representative Banks' bill to ensure that all servicemembers who have paid into the GI Bill are properly repaid. This bill would close the financial loophole that prevents at least 25,000 Active-Duty servicemembers from receiving the repayments they are due.

Under current law, a servicemember who switches from Montgomery to the Post-9/11 GI Bill would lose $1,200 that 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.

Representative Banks' bill would fix this policy to ensure that servicemembers and veterans who are pursuing a higher education degree are treated equally.

Servicemembers have earned this benefit by protecting our country. They should not be short changed just because they are getting an education while still on Active Duty.

This bill would include a short-term extension of VA home loan funding fees to fully offset the cost of this bill.

I thank The American Legion for bringing this problem to our attention. I also thank Congressman Banks for reintroducing this important bill that will make a big difference for thousands of Active- Duty servicemen and -women.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 502, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Banks), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation. I also want to join with the ranking member in telling the Senate that this is a really good bill and that they should take it up right away. We want to encourage them to do that.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 502, 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 their early days of 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 that the veteran is repaid, no questions asked.

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

I thank Representative Banks for his work on this legislation and the VSO community for bringing this issue to our committee. We were able to pass this legislation under the House last fall, but unfortunately, the Senate was unable to consider it. That is why I am thankful we can consider this bill early in 2023, giving our colleagues in the Senate plenty of time to complete it. No disrespect to the Senate, Mr. Speaker.

I urge the rest of my colleagues to support this legislation to ensure no veteran loses out on what is owed to them, and I certainly hope that Members of the House who aspire to be Senators will remember what it is like to be a House Member and make sure this never happens again.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me to pass H.R. 502, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding, and I appreciate his leadership on all issues related to our veterans in this great country. I appreciate the comments from the ranking member, as well, and his leadership of this committee over the last few years, too.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is simple. It closes an unintentional loophole in the law that hurts many of our Nation's veterans. It would equalize the treatment of servicemembers and veterans who paid into the Montgomery GI Bill, or the MGIB, but later used the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Presently, veterans may choose between the MGIB and the Post-9/11 GI Bill, both of which help pay for their education.

The MGIB requires a $100 monthly fee for the first 12 months of Active Duty. The quirk is that $1,200 is then refunded to servicemembers only as an attachment to their housing allowance. For veterans who do not receive a housing allowance from the VA, they also haven't been receiving the $1,200 that they are entitled to.

This is a complicated issue that no one ever intended to happen, but this bill closes the loophole by directing the VA to make the repayment before the servicemember exhausts their education assistance.

I appreciate the support for the bill. I hope that the people's House will pass it today so that we can fix this unintentional problem and do something important to help our veterans.

Mr. President, first, a little housekeeping.

I understand that there are three bills at the desk due for a second reading en bloc.

In order to place the bills on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I would object to further proceeding en bloc.

Mr. President, I understand there are three bills at the desk, and I ask for their first reading en bloc.

I now ask for a second reading, and I object to my own request, all en bloc.