Hoover Tower at Stanford University (Photo: Rikki Almanza)
Last month, a bipartisan bill, H.R. 5702, the Expanding Access for Online Veteran Students Act, was introduced in the House with the aim of increasing housing disbursements for student Veterans using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for online summer classes.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a popular education benefit provided by the VA, supporting over 834,000 beneficiaries with approximately $9.9 billion in financial assistance in fiscal year 2022.
If approved, H.R. 5702 would provide financial support to students working on their degrees during the summer months. However, its path to becoming law is uncertain due to other legislative priorities in Congress.
The plan, put forth by Republican Representatives Juan Ciscomani, Derrick Van Orden, and Greg Stanton, and Democratic Representative Melanie Stansbury, addresses the growing availability of online classes and non-traditional degree schedules. It would not affect students studying remotely during the regular school year, who currently receive lower housing stipends compared to those attending in-person classes.
Under this proposal, students attending 12-week summer courses online would be guaranteed nearly $2,000 a month in housing stipends, helping to cover their personal expenses. The legislation wouldn’t take effect until August 2024, with the earliest potential benefit increase set for summer of 2025.
The goal of this new proposal is to bridge the gap and provide Veterans with more flexibility in pursuing higher education. There is no specified timeline for when the House will consider this measure, as Congress is currently focused on passing budget bills.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
