Lawmakers pass second emergency package to protect veteran students from coronavirus losses

Congress finalized on Tuesday a second correction from GI Bill for veteran students whose studies have been interrupted by the Coronavirus pandemic, sending the package to the White House to be signed in the next few days.

The measure follows legislation last month that ensured that students would not see any disruption in their education benefit payments due to sudden switch from universities to online learning. Most colleges across the country have switched to distance sessions instead of face-to-face classes in an effort to limit the spread of the virus.

Under the previous rules, however, students who received online education only were not eligible for certain housing allowances. The emergency program allowed Veterans Affairs leaders to lift this restriction in light of the current emergency, ensuring that students would not experience any financial disruption.

However, this legislation did not cover lost income from other sources, such as closed study and work programs related to the GI Bill.

The latest measure – passed by the House earlier this month and by unanimous consent in the Senate on Tuesday – would keep those work-study payments active for the remainder of the semester, even if students cannot reach their workplace.

It will also ensure that, in light of the current emergency, GI Bill housing payments for students will continue even if the colleges close completely. And veterans could see all lost rights for this semester restored if their institution closes or if they are forced to withdraw from school over coronavirus concerns.

Lawmakers hailed the move as an important step in protecting the financial future of veterans.

“This fix builds on previous legislation passed and enacted to ensure that our veteran students can continue to receive the payments they would normally have from their education and training programs during this pandemic without having to worry about losing the benefits.” that they won. Said Senator Jerry Moran, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Veterans Committee.

His House counterpart, Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., Also praised the bipartisan action on the measure.

“As the country grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, no veteran student should have to worry about losing income from college jobs, interrupting their studies or unexpected bills when their school is shut down. schools, ”he said.

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Veterans’ advocates have welcomed the news.

“After speaking to VA work-study students who feared they could pay their bills and others who had to choose between working to feed their families or staying at home to protect their families from unnecessary exposure to the coronavirus, we thank the Senate for passing this, ”said Tanya Ang, vice president of Veterans Education Success.

“This bill provides much needed relief for studies in VA work, allowing them to focus on what matters most – their health and that of their family.”

White House officials did not say when the legislation could be enacted, but also did not object to the proposal.