Representatives from AACRAO, along with over 35 veteran and military organizations, gathered last week for a roundtable discussion on the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other pending legislation.
The meeting, hosted by the American Legion, focused on 17 pieces of proposed bills to improve the nation's most popular education benefit program for veterans. Since its passage in 2008, the Post-9/11 GI Bill has provided $75 billion in benefits to 1.5 million Iraq and Afghanistan-era veterans and their families.
The groups discussed strategies and legislative proposals that aim to secure the program's long-term viability and expand access to underserved populations.
One proposed bill up for discussion, the Veterans Education Priority Enrollment Act of 2017 (H.R. 1793), would compel institutions to provide priority enrollment to veterans. The House bill was introduced in March and then referred to committee, where discussions stalled, reported Stars and Stripes. The U.S. Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee considered the companion bill (S. 764) during a hearing last Wednesday. AACRAO submitted comments to the panel outlining a number of issues regarding certain aspects of the legislation.
The association cited concerns that a federal mandate would conflict with state or institutional policies and procedures. Several states already provide priority registration to veterans and there is no evidence of widespread issues with veterans registering for classes that would merit such a federal mandate. Additionally, AACRAO noted that such a mandate would set a precedent that could easily be applied to other categories of students and, more importantly, have adverse effects on students that truly need priority registration most.
Furthermore, AACRAO issued concern that the legislation would place an undue burden on institutions that do not have priority registration systems and/or policies in place. While realizing it is not the intent of this bill to require institutions to create such a system, the association worries that those without one will inadvertently lose their military friendly status.
Related Links
Politico Morning Education
http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-education/2017/05/19/states-picking-up-fight-for-free-college-220405
Stars and Stripes
https://www.stripes.com/news/feuding-veterans-groups-find-agreement-on-four-proposed-changes-to-the-gi-bill-1.469325#.WSSCS-vyuUm
AACRAO Comments on S. 764, Veterans Education Priority Enrollment Act of 2017
http://aacrao.org/docs/default-source/Advocacy1/SignOn-Letters/senate-veterans-priority-enrollment-comments---final-5-16-17.pdf?sfvrsn=2