WASHINGTON D.C., DC — Congresswoman Jen Kiggans has introduced a bill in Congress that would "amend current law to improve transparency and provide more resources for veterans looking to use GI Bill benefits."
According to information provided by the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, the GI Bill Comparison Tool allows veterans and GI Bill beneficiaries to access information about educational institutions, including the number of complaints a school has received, how much the GI Bill can be used to fund education, and what the veteran population of the institution is.
The bill introduced by Kiggans would "ensure this information is available in a modern, easy-to-use format through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)."
The release from the committee included this statement from Kiggans: “The GI Bill has been life-changing for millions of our nation’s former servicemembers – myself included. Expanding the GI Bill Comparison Tool will allow our veterans to be well-informed when making the important decision of where to use their well-deserved benefits. I’m confident that my bill will increase educational opportunities for our nation’s heroes!”
H.R. 5956 would expand on the information provided by the tool by providing access to:
- retention rates;
- transfer rates;
- graduation rates;
- credentials;
- certificates;
- average duration of degrees;
- student loan default rates, and;
- student loan repayment rates.
The release also said that by providing this additional information, "H.R. 5956 allows those seeking to use their GI Bill benefits to attain education to make the most informed choice possible."
The release went on to say: "In 2022, more than 800,000 veterans used their GI Bill benefits. Every school (that) accepts benefits offers the GI Bill Comparison Tool to their prospective students; however, the tool hasn’t been updated for years, highlighting its need for modernization."
You can read the full text of the bill HERE.