Commander Connelly thanks Washington for passing of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act

American Legion Department of Indiana Commander Allen Connelly thanks Washington for their support of student veterans by passing the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6322). Commander Connelly released this statement: “We are thankful to see Washington take action on student veterans issues. With this, student veterans can feel safe that they have secure food and housing during the COVID-19 pandemic and can focus on staying healthy.”

Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and House Armed Services Committee, co-sponsered the bill and released the following statement: ​“The spirit of the GI Bill is clear. If you serve your country, the United States will repay you with an education. During COVID-19, we need to ensure our student veterans don’t have to worry about housing costs as they complete their studies,” said Rep. Banks.

A summary of the bill:

This bill addresses education programs and assistance for veterans during the covered period from March 1-December 21, 2020.

Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue paying work-study allowances during emergency periods.

The VA is also authorized to continue paying educational assistance and subsistence allowances for a specified amount of time for programs of education that are suspended due to an emergency situation.

An educational assistance payment shall not be charged against an individual's entitlement to educational assistance if an individual was unable to complete a course or program due to the temporary closure of an educational institution or the temporary termination of a program by reason of an emergency situation. This includes assistance related to training and rehabilitation programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities.

The bill extends the time limitation for using educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill when institutions are closed due to an emergency situation or executive order. The bill also extends the time limitation for participation in a vocational rehabilitation program when such participation is prevented due to an emergency situation or executive order.

The bill authorizes the VA to pay a subsistence allowance for two additional months to a veteran following a program of employment services during the covered period for full-time training for the type of program the veteran was pursuing.

See HERE for more information on H.R. 6322

Download the full resolution (PDF) here.

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