Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2024

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7323) to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disapprove courses of education offered by a public institution of higher learning that does not charge the in-State tuition rate to a veteran using certain educational assistance under title 10 of such Code, 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. 7323, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7323 offered by my friend and fellow veteran, our Economic Opportunity Subcommittee chairman, Representative Van Orden.

This bill would reduce tuition costs for Montgomery GI Bill selected reservists by making them eligible for the same in-State tuition waiver that the other GI Bill recipients receive.

Representative Van Orden's bill would also reduce the cost for veterans seeking to become pilots. Veterans attending flight training schools would not be charged unlimited fees but instead would pay fees equal to those charged by a 4-year private college or university.

Student veterans would also be able to complete their flight training faster because they would be able to attend flight training year-round under this bill.

I fully support this bill that would ensure VA can protect the integrity of the GI Bill and provide veterans with the best economic and educational opportunities out there.

I thank the VFW, the ROA, and the DAV for supporting this bill, and I also thank my friend and colleague from New Jersey, Representative Kean, for his work on the flight school enhancements that are included in this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 7323, as amended. I reserve the balance of my time.

Committee on Armed Services,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC, September 12, 2024.

Hon. Mike Bost,

Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Bost: I write concerning H.R. 7323, a bill

sponsored by Representative Van Orden of Wisconsin. As a

result of your having consulted with us on provisions within

H.R. 7323 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the

Committee on Armed Services, I agree to forego any further

consideration of this bill so that it may proceed

expeditiously to the House floor for consideration.

The Committee on Armed Services takes this action with our

mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R.

7323 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over

subject matter contained in this or similar legislation and

that our committee will be appropriately consulted and

involved as this bill or similar legislation moves forward so

that we may address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction.

Finally, I ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on

this matter be included by House Committee on Veterans'

Affairs in the Congressional Record during floor

consideration, to memorialize our understanding. Thank you

for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding

this matter and others between our respective committees.

Sincerely,

Michael D. Rogers,

Chairman, House Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kean).

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 7323, the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2024.

This bill mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs deny courses that do not charge in-State tuition rates to veterans using certain educational assistance under Title X.

Now, VA already has the authority to disapprove courses at higher education institutions that do not offer in-State tuition rates for other GI Bill beneficiaries.

Mandating in-State tuition rates is a good policy. It ensures only schools who prioritize quality education at a fair price participate in the programs, it preserves GI Bill benefits for student veterans, and it makes the entire GI Bill program more solvent and sustainable so that the GI Bill stays available for veterans for generations to come.

It is also crucial to ensure that selected reservists receive the same benefits as their Active-Duty counterparts by ensuring that in- State tuition is granted, regardless of their residency.

This bill will expand educational opportunities by providing them with more affordable education options. Their dedication to serving our country deserves nothing less.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I mention that I support this bill because it is a step forward, but we do have a more comprehensive solution for reservists.

It is called the GI Parity Bill. It would provide parity to our reservists and our guardsmen to make sure that the time they put in for training counts for their qualification for GI Bill benefits.

I am disappointed that that bill has not been brought to the floor because I think that is the real solution to making sure that our guardsmen and our reservists are treated fairly.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 7323, the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2024, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7323, the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2024, introduced by my friend, Congressman Van Orden from Wisconsin.

This legislation includes my bill, H.R. 7613, the Veterans Flight Training Responsibility Act of 2024. This act would allow up to $115,000 in benefits for veterans to use at public institutions of higher learning for flight school.

This number is on par with the cap for 4-year private institutions so that veterans in flight schools are not disadvantaged and it would allow veterans to go to school year-round.

Additionally, this legislation would protect American taxpayers from schools charging hundreds of thousands of dollars for a degree that should not cost that much.

Finally, by getting veterans through school faster and protecting the VA from flight school GI Bill fraud, this legislation would help the economy and America's deficit, while being a good steward of taxpayer dollars.

This bill would allow student veterans who wish to train during the summer months to do so. This allows those students to take advantage of better weather conditions for flight training.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this vital piece of legislation to help our veterans obtain degrees quicker and advance in their chosen profession.

Finally, I thank Chairman Bost for advancing this legislation and my friend, Congressman Van Orden, for sponsoring the underlying bill.