October 19, 2019
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Tanya Ang | Vice President | (202) 838-5050
Lauren Augustine | Vice President of Government Relations (SVA) | (703) 772-9919
Barrett Y. Bogue | Senior Communication Advisor | (202) 670-5587
Veterans & Military Service Organizations Response to Senator Alexander’s Higher Education Legislation
Washington, D.C. – Chairman Alexander’s statement to pursue a piecemeal approach to a reauthorized Higher Education Act (HEA) is a disappointing departure from the comprehensive negotiations many military and veteran serving organizations have repeatedly asked for on HEA reauthorization. Our disappointment is compounded by his statements ignoring our long-standing, repeated requests to close the 90-10 loophole.
Closing the 90-10 loophole must be included in any HEA efforts, a priority shared in a letter earlier this year signed by 37 organizations. Ignoring such a long-standing and widely supported request to close the 90-10 loophole and bring parity to student protections for military-connected students hurts service members, veterans, and their families. Not closing the 90-10 loophole is a deal-breaker for military and veteran serving organizations.
While we appreciate Chairman Alexander communicating a willingness to continue conversations surrounding HEA, we hope he will indeed work across the aisle to develop a bipartisan, comprehensive HEA that puts the needs and interests of students at the center of policy. We have made continued efforts to meet with Chairman Alexander and his staff to work collaboratively on this process and hope those requests are accepted soon.
Air Force Sergeants Association
The American Legion
AMVETS
Army Aviation Association of America
Association of Military Surgeons of the US
Blue Star Families
The Chief Warrant & Warrant Officers Association, U. S. Coast Guard
Code of Support Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
High Ground Veterans Advocacy
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Ivy League Veterans Council
Jewish War Veterans of the USA
Military-Veterans Advocacy, Inc
Military Child Education Coalition
Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
National Military Family Association
Non Commissioned Officers Association
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Service to School
Service Women’s Action Network
Student Veterans of America
Swords to Plowshares
TREA: The Enlisted Association
The Mission Continues
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
United States Army Warrant Officers Association
U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association & Enlisted Association
Veterans for Common Sense
Veterans Education Success
Veterans Legal Clinic, University of San Diego Law School
Veterans Student Loan Relief Fund
VetsFirst
Vietnam Veterans of America
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About Veterans Education Success
Veterans Education Success (VES) is a veteran advocacy organization whose mission is to advance higher education success for veterans, servicemembers, and military-connected students and to defend the integrity and promise of the GI Bill and other federal education programs for veterans and servicemembers. VES offers policy expertise to policymakers and conducts non-partisan research on issues of concern to student veterans, including student outcomes and debt levels. VES also offers free legal services, advice, and college and career counseling to servicemembers, veterans, their survivors, and families using federal education benefits, and helps veterans participate in their democracy by engaging with their Congressional representatives. Additional information is available at www.vetsedsuccess.org.