Should Veterans’ Education Benefits Only be Available for Use on Approved Courses? (H.R. 2360)

What is H.R. 2360?

(Updated November 27, 2017)

This bill would require that non-accredited educational courses meet certain requirements before Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits (or G.I. Bill benefits) can be used to pay for tuition and fees. Programs that prepare students for employment in fields that require licensure or certification by a state would have to demonstrate that the courses satisfy state prerequisites or have been state-approved.

The VA could waive the requirement that the state approve of the courses or curriculum in question if:

• The educational institution is accredited by an agency or association recognized by the Dept. of Education;

• The program didn’t meet the requirements at any time during the two-year period preceding the waiver;

• The waiver furthers educational assistance programs or furthers the education interests of the individual;

• The educational institution doesn’t provide any incentive payments based on securing enrollments or financial aid to people involved in recruiting or admitting students or in making decisions about financial aid awards. Foreign students who are ineligible for federal assistance would be excluded from this provision.

Within 30 days of issuing a waiver, the VA would be required to notify Congress and justify why the waiver was issued.

The VA would be required to disapprove of a course unless the educational institution publicly discloses any conditions or additional requirements like training or exams that are required to obtain the license, certification, or approval the program prepares for. Other courses at a given educational institution would not necessarily be disapproved by the VA, so the individual could pursue other programs if they stay enrolled continuously.

Argument in favor

Veterans’ hard-earned federal educational benefits shouldn’t be spent at institutions that mislead students about the full requirements of obtaining state-issued licenses or certifications.

Argument opposed

Veterans earned their benefits and should be free to spend them where they want without worrying about the VA holding them back. Individual students should be looking into state licensing requirements on their own.

Impact

Veterans pursuing an education at institutions that aren’t accredited with GI Bill benefits,

Cost of H.R. 2360

The CBO estimates that implementing this bill would lead to no additional spending.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) introduced this legislation to ensure that student veterans enrolled in career-education programs receive an education that prepares them for the workforce without misleading them about additional requirements:

“My bill would require programs to have accreditation if required for the relevant field and to meet the curriculum and instructional requirements for state licensure or certification in order to receive GI Bill benefits. These reforms are critical for protecting servicemembers, veterans, and taxpayers from unscrupulous for-profit colleges.”

This legislation was passed by the House Veterans Affairs Committee on a voice vote in September 2015. It currently has seven cosponsors in the House, including four Democrats and three Republicans.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) Press Release
• CBO Cost Estimate