The U.S. Senate on Wednesday night passed a bipartisan package of veterans-friendly legislation, S. 2248.
The minibus includes language from a bill co-sponsored by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and John Boozman (R-AR) that would prohibit colleges from collecting a late fee or requiring GI Bill users to take out additional loans because of delayed payments. It would also require the U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA) Department to provide electronic proof to student veterans that they will receive a housing payment from the VA under the GI Bill that they can use to show a prospective landlord.
Lawmakers have been increasingly frustrated by GI Bill processing delays throughout the fall semester as the VA struggled to implement provisions in a law that changed how the monthly housing benefit tied to the benefit is calculated.
The minibus legislation, approved last week by the House, now awaits President Trump's signature.
The White House has not said publicly if Trump will sign the legislation, but VA officials have previously said the administration supports the provision that prohibits colleges from collecting late fees, reported Politico.
The Senate sent a separate bill, S. 3777, to the House on Tuesday, co-sponsored by Boozman and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), that would require the VA to reimburse veterans for missed or underpaid GI Bill housing benefits.
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Politico
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-education/2018/12/13/farm-bill-to-boost-historically-black-colleges-universities-454662