Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
This bill lets veterans who received a Purple Heart (a medal given to service members wounded or killed in combat) transfer their unused college benefits to their spouse or children. Right now, only active-duty service members can transfer these benefits, and they usually must commit to additional military service. If this passes, Purple Heart veterans who have already left the military could share their education benefits with family members without any extra service requirement.
Thousands of combat-wounded veterans who left the military before transferring their college benefits currently have no way to share those benefits with their families. This bill would unlock education funding for their spouses and children , potentially covering tuition worth tens of thousands of dollars per family.