We advocate for student veterans before VA
VA’s Obligation to Stop Colleges’ Deceptive Recruiting
We have pushed VA for years to stop colleges’ deceptive recruiting. We helped bring to VA’s attention a Vietnam-era statute, 38 USC 3696, that requires VA to cut off GI Bill funding to schools that engage in deceptive recruiting. We continue to prod VA to comply with the law, including engaging Congressional pressure on VA.
GI Bill Reinstatement for Students Whose School Closed
The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 allows VA to restore entitlement to beneficiaries affected by school closure or disapproval (if the disapproval was due to a change in law or VA interpretation of statute).
National GI Bill Delays
We worked to ensure that GI Bill delays were addressed immediately, and has fought to make sure the VA makes back payments on all missed payments.
VA Proposes to Waive Ethics Rule for VA Employees
When the Department of Veterans Affairs announced a rule to waive federal ethics rules to legalize bribery of VA employees, we alerted and worked closely with ethics experts, and our military, veteran and education allies to organize opposition efforts to force VA to reverse its decision.
OUR LETTERS TO VA
Our Letter to the OMB Regarding VA’s GI Bill School Feedback Tool
September 20, 2024 Via electronic submission Re: GI Bill® School Feedback Tool, No Form, OMB Control No. 2900-0797, Document Number 2024-18723 Dear Sir/Madam: Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the collection of information by the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) regarding the GI Bill® School Feedback Tool. In 2022, [...]
Our Letter to VA, With Recommendations for Helping Student Veterans, Following June 2024 Meeting
August 13, 2024 Mr. John Boerstler Chief Veterans Experience Officer Veterans Experience Office U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20420 Mr. Joseph Garcia Director, Education Service Veterans Benefits Administration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 1800 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20006 Re: Recommendations Following June [...]
Our Letter to VA Regarding the GI Bill® School Feedback Tool
August 15, 2024 Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 Via electronic submission Re: GI Bill® School Feedback Tool, No Form, OMB Control No. 2900-0797, Document Number 2024-13219 Dear Sir/Madam: Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the collection of information by [...]
Our Letter to VA Regarding Proposed New Application for Education Benefit Restoration Due to School Closure, Program Suspension or Withdrawal
May 3, 2024 Nancy J. Kessinger VA Forms Manager Veterans Benefits Administration Department of Veterans Affairs Via email Re: OMB Control No. 2900-0859 (VA Form 22-0989)--Open for Public Comments Dear Ms. Kessinger, Thank you for accepting our comments via email since there were issues with the link in the VA [...]
Veterans & Military Service Organizations’ Letter to VA Regarding Proposed Regulatory Changes Opening Up GI Bill To Unaccredited Online Programs
February 21, 2024 The Honorable Josh Jacobs, Under Secretary for Benefits Veteran Benefits Administration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 via email Re: Proposed Regulatory Change on the Definition of “Independent Study” Dear Mr. Jacobs, The undersigned veterans and military service organizations write to [...]
Our Letter to VA Regarding Proposed Regulatory Changes Opening up GI Bill to Unaccredited Online Programs
MEMORANDUM TO: The Honorable Joshua Jacobs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs CC: The Honorable James Kvaal, U.S. Department of Education The Honorable Terri Tanielian, White House Domestic Policy Council Mr. Joe Garcia, Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration Ms. Faye Fernandes, Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ms. Kesley Baron, Senate Committee [...]
VA REPORTS & PRESS RELEASES
VA: Conflicting Interests Certification for Proprietary Schools
PURPOSE: This form informs individuals that the law has restrictions concerning any potential conflict of interest.
VA Report to Appropriations 2018 CTR – State Accrediting Agency Oversight
Despite adequate statutory and regulatory provisions, VA has identified additional steps that can be taken to further strengthen SAA compliance with the conflict of interest laws and regulations and ensure SAAs are aware of ethics rules.
VA’s Resolution of 3696 Violations by 5 schools
On July 2, 2020, VA notified 5 schools at risk of losing eligibility to enroll GI Bill students over deceptive recruiting that their prior resolutions with federal and state law enforcement would suffice, rendering 38 USC 3696 meaningless. VA's letters are below
MORE NEWS & INFO
Our Public Comment Seeking Changes to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Proposed Rule on Reporting Debts to Credit Reporting Agencies
September 21, 2021 Submitted via electronic portal Jason Hoge Director of Operations Debt Management Center Office of Management, 189 1 Federal Drive Suite 4500 Fort Snelling, MN 55111 Re: RIN 2900-AR20-Threshold for Reporting VA Debts to Consumer Reporting Agencies Dear Mr. Hoge: I write on behalf of Veterans Education Success [...]
Our Comment on the Computer Matching Agreement between the Department of Education and the Department of Veterans Affairs
We are providing comments on the May 6, 2021, Federal Register Notice (ED-2021-FSA-0005) concerning the re-establishment of the flawed computer matching agreement (CMA) between the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The objective of the CMA is to assist ED with verification of [...]
Military.com: This GI Bill Rule Change Could Cost Veterans Thousands of Dollars a Semester
"That full-time status ensures their housing allowance remains steady, consequently helping them complete their post-secondary education," said Tanya Ang, vice president of advocacy group Veterans Education Success. "VA has been able to adequately address this situation for years, so it only makes sense they continue to do so without the [...]
