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.