Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5684
Sponsor: Rep. Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [D-SD-At Large]
Introduced: 2008-04-02 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative fees
Apprenticeship
Business education
Collection of accounts
Commerce
Department of Veterans Affairs
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Federal employees
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Information technology
Intergovernmental fiscal relations
Labor and Employment
Law
Licenses
Recruiting of employees
Science, Technology, Communications
Student employment
Student loan funds
Veterans' benefits
Veterans' education
Veterans' employment

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-02
text: 
Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program for veterans to: (1) increase the rates of basic educational assistance and the time limit for entitlement to and use of such assistance; (2) provide a stipend for individuals using such assistance to pursue a program of education at an institution of higher learning; (3) extend the period for the collection of a fee for the use of such assistance; (4) authorize the use of such assistance for business courses and seminars, courses taken to prepare for licensing or certification tests, and the repayment of federal student loans; (5) allow for withdrawal of the election not to enroll in the program; (6) state that such assistance shall not reduce eligibility for other financial aid; (7) extend the increase in benefits for certain individuals pursuing apprenticeships or on-job training; (8) modify the amount for reimbursement of state and local agencies administering veterans' education benefits; (9) provide educational assistance for veterans discharged under a general discharge; (10) increase the reporting fee payable to educational institutions that enroll veterans receiving assistance; (11) provide additional areas of work-study for veterans; (12) require a five-year pilot program for on-campus work-study positions; (13) increase the number of employees in the Education Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); (14) require an action plan for upgrading VA information technology used in the administration of educational benefits; and (15) modify the advance payment of initial educational assistance or subsistence allowance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-04-23
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2008-04-23
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2008-04-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
action_date: 2008-04-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-04-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-04-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-04-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-02
text: Introduced in House