Sgt. Isaac Woodard, Jr. and Sgt. Joseph H. Maddox GI Bill Restoration Act of 2025

This bill aims to repair harms from past discrimination in how GI Bill benefits were given after World War II. It lets Black World War II veterans who can certify they were denied a specific GI Bill benefit because of race—and their surviving spouses and direct descendants—qualify for VA-backed home loans. It also opens Post‑9/11 GI Bill education help to survivors and certain direct descendants who meet that test. Applicants have five years from when the law takes effect to apply .

The bill directs the VA to set up the program within 90 days and requires a federal report on how many people receive these benefits and the total value provided. It also creates an expert panel to recommend additional support for female and minority veterans, with a report due within a year .

• Who is affected: Black WWII veterans who can certify past denial due to race; their living surviving spouses, children, grandchildren, and other direct descendants (descendants must be alive when the law takes effect).
• What changes: Access to VA home loans for these groups; Post‑9/11 GI Bill education benefits for eligible survivors and certain direct descendants; VA to issue rules and report results; a panel to suggest further help for female and minority veterans .
• When: VA must implement within 90 days; applications are open for five years after enactment; reports are due about a year after implementation, and the expert panel’s report is due within one year of enactment .