A proposal to expand the GI Bill is gaining momentum in Congress. However, some veterans’ advocates warn that parts of the legislation could create new problems for those who earned the benefit.
Marine Corps veteran Will Hubbard, Vice President for Veterans and Military Policy with Veterans Education Success, said the proposed Take Care of America’s Veterans Act includes several worthwhile reforms. Still, he believes two overlooked provisions deserve closer scrutiny.
The first concern involves fully online trade training. Hubbard argued that many skilled trades require hands-on instruction. Programs such as welding cannot provide the same experience through online-only coursework. Hybrid programs already exist under current law. Hubbard said the proposal could instead encourage unaccredited online programs that fail to prepare veterans for industry certifications or jobs.
The second issue focuses on housing allowances for online students. The bill would increase the benefit from 50% to 100% of the national average housing allowance. Hubbard said that approach ignores regional housing costs. As a result, some veterans could receive more assistance than they need, while others could still struggle to cover expenses.
Hubbard also raised concerns about predatory schools. Some institutions aggressively recruit veterans to access GI Bill funding. Veterans who discover they enrolled in a poor-quality or misleading program have few options. Unlike many students using federal education loans, they cannot recover lost GI Bill benefits after leaving those schools.
Veterans Education Success wants Congress to revise the legislation before lawmakers hold a final vote. Hubbard said lawmakers should remove the controversial education provisions. He also urged Congress to include stronger protections for veterans harmed by fraudulent or misleading schools.
Supporters agree the bill contains several positive reforms. However, critics argue Congress should fix the remaining issues first. They believe lawmakers can strengthen the legislation while protecting the long-term value of earned GI Bill benefits.