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Public Law115th CongressArmed Forces and National Security
H.R. 3218Became Law

Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017

This bill became law

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What it doesSummary public law (Aug 16, 2017)

Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017

This bill revises education and related benefits provided to veterans, service members, dependents, and survivors.

The bill amends the Post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance program to:

  • remove certain time restrictions on program use;
  • increase assistance for reservists, guardsmen, dependents, and surviving spouses and dependents;
  • provide full eligibility for Post-9/11 Purple Heart recipients and certain reservists and guardsmen;
  • provide an extra academic years' worth of benefits for STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) degree candidates;
  • establish a five-year pilot program for high technology courses;
  • restore eligibility for service members whose school closes in the middle of a semester;
  • authorize funding to improve claims processing;
  • permit assistance to be used at certain institutions that are not institutions of higher education; and
  • pro-rate the housing stipend for reservists called to active duty.

The bill authorizes the Edith Nurse Rogers STEM Scholarship to help veterans complete STEM degrees.

The Yellow Ribbon program is extended to Fry Scholarship recipients (surviving dependents of service members who died on active duty) and certain Purple Heart recipients. (The Yellow Ribbon program helps veterans pay for higher education tuition and fee costs not covered by the Post-9/11 program.)

The bill: (1) extends the Advisory Committee on Education, (2) increases survivors' and dependents' educational assistance, and (3) extends funding for state educational program approving agencies.

The bill provides statutory authority for the VetSuccess on Campus program, which provides veterans with on-campus educational and vocational counseling.

The Department of Veterans Affairs shall make a new determination regarding each denied veteran's claim for disability compensation in connection with full-body exposure to mustard gas or Lewisite at specified locations during World War II and resolve reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.

For more detailed information, see Congressional Research Service Report R45205, Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (P.L. 115-48).

What just happenedAug 16, 2017

Signed by President.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1](R-TN)Sponsor
121 cosponsors85 D36 R
Read on Congress.gov
121cosponsors2committees30actions18related bills18subjects
  1. Aug 16, 2017President

    Signed by President.

  2. Aug 16, 2017BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  3. Aug 7, 2017Floor

    Presented to President.

  4. Aug 7, 2017President28000

    Presented to President.

  5. Aug 3, 2017Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  6. Aug 2, 2017Floor

    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4716)

  7. Aug 2, 2017Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4716)

  8. Jul 26, 2017Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

    Military Personnel Subcommittee
  9. Jul 25, 2017IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate, read twice.

  10. Jul 24, 2017FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  11. Jul 24, 2017FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 0 (Roll no. 409). (text: CR H6158-6165)

  12. Jul 24, 2017Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 0 (Roll no. 409).(text: CR H6158-6165)

  13. Jul 24, 2017FloorH30000

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6197-6198)

  14. Jul 24, 2017FloorH37220

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  15. Jul 24, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3218.

  16. Jul 24, 2017FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6158-6170)

  17. Jul 24, 2017FloorH30300

    Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  18. Jul 24, 2017CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 179.

  19. Jul 24, 2017DischargeH12300

    Committee on Armed Services discharged.

    Armed Services Committee
  20. Jul 24, 2017Committee5500

    Committee on Armed Services discharged.

    Armed Services Committee
  21. Jul 24, 2017CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-247, Part I.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  22. Jul 24, 2017Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-247, Part I.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  23. Jul 19, 2017Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  24. Jul 19, 2017Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  25. Jul 17, 2017Committee

    Committee Hearings Held.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  26. Jul 13, 2017Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

    Economic Opportunity Subcommittee
  27. Jul 13, 2017IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Armed Services Committee
  28. Jul 13, 2017IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  29. Jul 13, 2017IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  30. Jul 13, 2017IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Public LawAug 16, 201749

Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017

This bill revises education and related benefits provided to veterans, service members, dependents, and survivors.

The bill amends the Post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance program to:

  • remove certain time restrictions on program use;
  • increase assistance for reservists, guardsmen, dependents, and surviving spouses and dependents;
  • provide full eligibility for Post-9/11 Purple Heart recipients and certain reservists and guardsmen;
  • provide an extra academic years' worth of benefits for STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) degree candidates;
  • establish a five-year pilot program for high technology courses;
  • restore eligibility for service members whose school closes in the middle of a semester;
  • authorize funding to improve claims processing;
  • permit assistance to be used at certain institutions that are not institutions of higher education; and
  • pro-rate the housing stipend for reservists called to active duty.

The bill authorizes the Edith Nurse Rogers STEM Scholarship to help veterans complete STEM degrees.

The Yellow Ribbon program is extended to Fry Scholarship recipients (surviving dependents of service members who died on active duty) and certain Purple Heart recipients. (The Yellow Ribbon program helps veterans pay for higher education tuition and fee costs not covered by the Post-9/11 program.)

The bill: (1) extends the Advisory Committee on Education, (2) increases survivors' and dependents' educational assistance, and (3) extends funding for state educational program approving agencies.

The bill provides statutory authority for the VetSuccess on Campus program, which provides veterans with on-campus educational and vocational counseling.

The Department of Veterans Affairs shall make a new determination regarding each denied veteran's claim for disability compensation in connection with full-body exposure to mustard gas or Lewisite at specified locations during World War II and resolve reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.

For more detailed information, see Congressional Research Service Report R45205, Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (P.L. 115-48).

Introduced in HouseJul 13, 2017

Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017

This bill revises education and related benefits provided to veterans, service members, dependents, and survivors.

The bill amends the Post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance program to:

  • remove certain time restrictions on program use;
  • increase assistance for reservists, guardsmen, dependents, and surviving spouses and dependents;
  • provide full eligibility for Post-9/11 Purple Heart recipients and certain reservists and guardsmen;
  • provide an extra academic years' worth of benefits for STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) degree candidates;
  • establish a five-year pilot program for high technology courses;
  • restore eligibility for service members whose school closes in the middle of a semester;
  • authorize funding to improve claims processing;
  • permit assistance to be used at certain institutions that are not institutions of higher education; and
  • pro-rate the housing stipend for reservists called to active duty.

The bill authorizes the Edith Nurse Rogers STEM Scholarship to help veterans complete STEM degrees.

The Yellow Ribbon program is extended to Fry Scholarship recipients (surviving dependents of service members who died on active duty) and certain Purple Heart recipients. (The Yellow Ribbon program helps veterans pay for higher education tuition and fee costs not covered by the Post-9/11 program.)

The bill: (1) extends the Advisory Committee on Education, (2) increases survivors' and dependents' educational assistance, and (3) extends funding for state educational program approving agencies.

Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 — Informed