Sponsors (2)
The bill increases first‑year GI Bill payments for veterans in apprenticeship/OJT programs and clarifies coverage (improving financial support and administration) at the cost of higher VA outlays that may pressure the federal budget or require reallocation of VA resources.
Veterans using GI Bill apprenticeship or on‑the‑job training programs receive higher first‑year educational assistance (benefit computed at 90% instead of 80%), increasing direct financial support for trainees.
Veterans and VA beneficiaries benefit from clarified statutory language that explicitly applies the first‑year amount to those using educational assistance under this chapter, reducing administrative ambiguity and likely simplifying benefit administration.
Veterans in apprenticeship/OJT programs are more likely to enroll in and complete these training pathways because higher first‑year payments improve the financial feasibility of career transitions.
Taxpayers and the federal budget face higher costs because raising the first‑year benefit rate increases overall VA outlays for apprenticeship/OJT educational assistance.
Veterans could see reduced availability of other VA services if the Department must reallocate funds to cover higher apprenticeship/OJT payments and no additional appropriations are provided.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Raises the first‑year VA apprenticeship/on‑the‑job training payment calculation from 80% to 90% for persons using VA educational assistance.
Official title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of educational assistance paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to an eligible individual during the first year of a full-time program of apprenticeship or other on-job training.
Introduced February 5, 2025 by Derrick Van Orden · Last progress February 5, 2025
Raises the calculation used to set the first-year educational assistance amount for veterans and eligible persons in full-time apprenticeships or on-the-job training from 80% to 90% of the referenced first-year amount, and clarifies the rule applies to persons using educational assistance under the VA chapter. This increases the first-year benefit payment for qualifying apprentices and trainees. The change is a narrow amendment to existing VA statutory language that affects benefit computation for participants in apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs, with modest budgetary effects for the VA education benefit programs.