Congress Looks to Safeguard Veterans’ Education

As more veterans enroll in college under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Congress has stepped up its scrutiny of how colleges market to them—and how federal agencies help departing servicemembers make the transition to higher education. Here are some of the bills members of Congress have introduced this session.

Military and Veterans Educational Reform Act

Would require the secretaries of veterans affairs and of defense to create a centralized process for veterans to report fraud, abuse, and other complaints against colleges. Would also require those agencies to provide, “to the extent possible,” one-on-one educational counseling for veterans, in person.

GI Bill Consumer Awareness Act

Would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to disclose statistics on colleges’ veteran enrollments, acceptance of GI Bill payments, average student-loan debt, and job-placement rates. Would also expand educational counseling for veterans.

GI Educational Freedom Act

Would require all veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill to get educational counseling on, among other topics, accreditation, transfer of credits, the implications of incurring student-loan debt, and the importance of developing an academic plan—before enrolling in college.

Recognizing Excellence in Veterans Education Act

Would direct the secretary of veterans affairs to create an honorary award to recognize colleges that provide “superior services” to veterans.

Military and Veterans Education Protection Act

Would close a loophole in a Congressional financing formula known as the 90/10 rule that allows for-profit colleges to count GI Bill dollars as private tuition payments.

Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers Act

To lessen for-profit colleges’ incentive to attract veteran students, would alter the 90/10 rule to require colleges to get 15 percent of their revenue from private sources.

Protecting Financial Aid for Students and Taxpayers Act

Would prohibit institutions from using federal aid like Pell Grants and Post-9/11 GI Bill funds for advertising, marketing, and recruitment.