We collaborate with our veteran & military allies to maximize our collective advocacy impact, offering policy recommendations to Congress and federal agencies.
OUR LETTERS TO CONGRESS
Letter from 51 Higher Education Organizations to Congress in Support of Today’s Students in Response to COVID-19
March 18, 2020 Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell, and Leader Schumer: As new cases of COVID-19 exposure and infection arise every day, many of the nation’s institutions of higher education are suspending or [...]
Our Statement for the Record: Legislative Priorities for 2020
STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES SUBMITTED TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE COMMITTEES ON VETERANS AFFAIRS SECOND SESSION 116TH CONGRESS March 9, 2020 Chairmen Moran and Takano, Ranking Members Tester and Bilirakis, and Members of [...]
Letter to the Senate regarding “short-term” programs for Pell
A letter from Veterans Education Success and leading education policy organizations to the Senate education committee leaders urging evidence-based, data-driven decision-making on opening Pell Grants up to very short-term programs.
Our Statement for the Record on VA’s Budget Request for 2021
STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD COMMITTEE HEARING ON U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021 SUBMITTED TO THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS U.S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 27, 2020 Chairman Takano, Ranking [...]
Thank You Letter to House Appropriations Committee for DOL VETS DVP Program
Below is a thank you letter from 17 veterans organizations to the House Appropriations Committee for including funding for the 2020 Department of Labor VETS program to establish a Disabled Veteran Program (DVP). [...]
MSO-VSO Letter Supporting MLA Expansion
November 15, 2019 The Honorable Mike Crapo, Chair Senate Committee on Banking SD-534 Dirksen Senate Office Committee Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Sherrod Brown, Ranking Member Senate Committee on Banking SD-534 Dirksen Senate [...]
42 Veterans and Military Organizations Request Senate Action on HR 4625, Protect the GI Bill Act
42 of the nation's leading veterans service organizations and military service organizations wrote the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee to request its speedy passage of HR 4625, Protect the GI Bill Act, which cleared the House [...]
Joint Letter in Support of Shalala Amendment on DoD Tuition Assistance
On July 25, 2019, twenty-six student, education, military, and veterans service organizations expressed their support for an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 that would require the Defense Department to make public [...]
37 Veterans and Military Service Organizations write Congress to share our priorities for Higher Education Act reauthorization
37 undersigned organizations representing the interests of more than 2 million military-connected current students in higher education, write to ensure that reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) increases college access and improves college completion [...]
Our recommendations to Senators regarding the needs of students of color
Thank you for the opportunity to share our thoughts on the needs of student borrowers of color as you undertake Higher Education Act reauthorization. Veterans Education Success represents veterans, servicemembers, military families, and survivors. According [...]
OUR LETTERS TO VA
Our Letter to VA Regarding Ashford
We submitted a letter to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, providing key information about Ashford University.
36 Veteran and Military Organizations Ask VA for Better Oversight of GI Bill Colleges
A letter from 36 military and veteran organizations to the Secretary of VA, requesting a meeting and his attention to the Inspector General's finding that VA is wasting $2.3 billion in GI Bill to colleges [...]
Our Letter urging VA to follow the law on schools that defraud veterans
After multiple for-profit colleges have been caught defrauding veterans, the VA has still failed to act. We wrote a letter to the VA reminding the agency of its duty to protect veterans.
Veterans and Military Organizations Write VA to Fix Delays in GI Bill Payments
As an IT issue wreaked havoc on GI Bill payments, 15 veteran and military organizations wrote a letter urging VA Secretary Wilkie to find a prompt solution.
42 Ethics, Veterans, Consumer, and Education Leaders Oppose VA’s Revised Ethics Proposal
42 federal ethics experts, national veterans and military service organizations, and consumer protection and education experts urge the US Department of Veterans Affairs to properly implement an anti-corruption ethics law for VA employees taking gifts [...]
21 Veterans and Military Organizations Oppose VA’s Plan to Waive Ethics Laws for For-Profit Colleges
Veterans Education Success led 20 veterans and military organizations in speaking out against VA's plan to waive federal ethics laws for for-profit colleges.
Our Formal Legal Opposition to VA’s Plan to Waive Ethics Laws for For-Profit Colleges
Veterans Education Success (with pro bono help from Mayer Brown LLP's Supreme Court practice) submitted a formal legal opposition to VA's plan to waive federal ethics laws to enable for-profit colleges to give VA employees [...]
VA Employees’ Labor Union Opposes VA Ethics Waiver
Veterans Education Success worked with the VA employees' labor union to oppose VA's plan to allow for-profit colleges to give VA employees gifts, dividends, profits, salaries, wages, and services - in violation of federal ethics [...]
Twenty Three Veterans and Military Organizations Ask VA for Better Oversight of the GI Bill
A letter to Secretary McDonald requesting additional oversight of the GI Bill to protect veterans from predatory colleges. Signed by 23 veteran and military organizations.
Our Letter to VA to Improve Caution Flags
Caution Flags in GI Bill comparison tool help veterans avoid schools that are bad actors but more should be done. DOWNLOAD
OUR LETTERS TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Letter to the Education Department Urging it Revoke Recognition of ACICS as an Accreditor
March 24, 2020 Herman Bounds Director, Accreditation Group U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Ave., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20002 Dear Mr. Bounds: On February 27, 2018, twenty-nine Veterans and Military Service Organizations wrote to ask [...]
Letter to President Donald J. Trump from 34 Military & Veteran Service Organizations Urging Support for H.J. Res 76
March 13, 2020 The Honorable Donald J. Trump The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Trump: In August 2019, you stood with veterans in directing the Education Department to ensure that all totally and [...]
Letter to the Education Department regarding disabled Americans’ student loan relief
We joined education and consumer organizations in a policy letter to the Education Department calling for student loan relief for disabled Americans.
22 Veterans & Military Organizations Letter to Education Department RE: Disabled Veterans’ Loans
22 Leading Veterans and Military Service Organizations submitted a public comment to the US Education Department thanking the Education Department for moving forward with a process to ensure totally and permanently disabled ("TPD") veterans' legal [...]
Our letter urging stronger accreditor oversight of colleges
Letter to the Office of Post Secondary Education About Proposed Rules for Accrediting Agencies.
Our Letter urging better disclosures on college performance under Gainful Employment rule
We at Veterans Education Success - a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of veterans, servicemembers, and their families - strenuously oppose the proposed changes to the Gainful Employment rule as they will undermine and weaken [...]
Veterans Organizations Recommend Tanya Ang for 2019 Negotiated Rulemaking
Recommendation to the US Education Department of negotiators representing veterans and military students in 2019 Negotiated Rule-Making
Veterans Organizations Call for Automatic Loan Forgiveness for Disabled Veterans
A letter to the Department of Education requesting automatic loan forgiveness for disabled veterans.
28 Veterans Organizations Call on the Education Department to Stop Waste, Fraud, and Abuse
Public comment from 28 veterans and military service organizations urging the Education Department to maintain strong integrity rules against waste, fraud, and abuse, and to expand competency-based education.
OUR LETTERS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Protecting Servicemember Loan Rates
Military and veteran groups wrote to the Department of Defense thanking them for automating SCRA rights and asking for restitution to servicemembers who previously were not accorded to these rights that they were entitled to. [...]
Our Full-Page Ad for the Military Lending Act
Veterans and Military Service Organizations Take Out Full-Page Ad in Many Newspapers Nationwide to Protect the Military Lending Act
CFPB and DoD: Protect Servicemembers’ Rights
38 veterans and military service organizations call on the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and US Defense Department to stop the rollback of servicemembers' rights under the Military Lending Act Resubmitted Sept. [...]
Veteran Organizations Thank DOD for Enforcing its Rules against University of Phoenix
National Organizations Thank Defense Department for Enforcing its Rules to Protect Service Members from Deceptive Recruiting
Public Comment by Veteran and Military Organizations on DOD’s Tuition Assistance MOU
Public Comment by Veterans & Military Organizations Providing Suggestions to Defense Department on Tuition Assistance MOU
Military & Veteran Education Bill of Rights
A Bill of Rights for veterans and service members to rein in harmful practices while promoting educational success
OUR LETTERS TO THE CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU
21 Military & Veteran Organizations’ Letter to CFPB on Debt Collection
Veterans Education Success organized and led a letter from 21 national military and veteran service organizations to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regarding its proposed changes to debt collection rules.
Veterans and Military Service Organizations urge the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to maintain mandatory underwriting provisions of the rule regulating Payday, vehicle title and high-cost installment loans
Military and Veteran Service Organizations (MSO/VSOs) write to express opposition to recension of underwriting requirements of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) 2017 rule regulating Payday, Vehicle Title and Certain High-Cost Installment Loans.
Veterans and Military Service Organizations urge the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau not to delay implementation of Payday Loans protection rule
The undersigned Military and Veteran Service Organizations (MSO/VSOs) write to express opposition to the proposed delay of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) 2017 rule regulating Payday, Vehicle Title and Certain High-Cost Installment Loans. The [...]
Our Full-Page Ad for the Military Lending Act
Veterans and Military Service Organizations Take Out Full-Page Ad in Many Newspapers Nationwide to Protect the Military Lending Act
CFPB and DoD: Protect Servicemembers’ Rights
38 veterans and military service organizations call on the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and US Defense Department to stop the rollback of servicemembers' rights under the Military Lending Act Resubmitted Sept. [...]
Protection for the Office of Servicemember Affairs
Our public comment urging the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to maintain robust consumer financial education and to protect the Office of Servicemember Affairs
Letter to CFPB Regarding Consumer Complaints
Veterans and Military leaders urge the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to maintain robust public reporting and database of consumer complaints
Monitoring Student Loan Servicers
Letter from VES to U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau re: monitoring of student loan servicers
OUR LETTERS TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
Free Credit Monitoring for Servicemembers
VES and other veterans and military service organizations write to US Federal Trade Commission regarding free credit monitoring for servicemembers
Our Letter to FTC Regarding Fake Military Recruiting Websites
28 Veterans and Military Leaders ask US Federal Trade Commission to release the names of the schools that participated in fake military recruiting websites Related letter to US Congressional Armed Services Committees [...]
Our Letter to FTC Regarding “Military Friendly” Schools
19 Veterans and Military service organizations' public comment on US Federal Trade Commission's proposed settlement with Victory Media's "Military Friendly Schools" Additional comments by Student Veterans of America Additional comments [...]
OUR LETTERS TO THE STATES
Letter to State AGs regarding the University of Phoenix
February 14, 2020 Dear Attorneys General: As you may have heard, on December 10, 2019, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a proposed settlement[1] with the University of Phoenix (UOP). In its investigation, the [...]
Veterans Education Success Letter in Support for SB 1544
"We at Veterans Education Success are writing in support of Senate Bill 1544. This bill will protect veterans and servicemembers from fraud and abuse by predatory colleges that target them with aggressive and deceptive recruiting just to get their GI Bill."
Public Comment by Veterans and Military Organizations on Deceptive Marketing by For-Profit Schools
Public Comment by Veterans & Military Organizations on the Massachusetts Attorney General's Proposed Regulations on Deceptive Marketing by For-Profit Schools
OUR LETTERS TO OTHERS
Letter to President Donald J. Trump from 34 Military & Veteran Service Organizations Urging Support for H.J. Res 76
March 13, 2020 The Honorable Donald J. Trump The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Trump: In August 2019, you stood with veterans in directing the Education Department to ensure that all totally and [...]
Letter to State AGs regarding the University of Phoenix
February 14, 2020 Dear Attorneys General: As you may have heard, on December 10, 2019, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a proposed settlement[1] with the University of Phoenix (UOP). In its investigation, the [...]
We submitted a formal “Third Party Comment” regarding the accreditor ACICS to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
We ask you to please review the following two letters regarding ACICS. The concerns of Veterans and Military Service Organizations regarding ACICS still stand:
DOL Urged to Exercise Caution With Apprenticeship Programs
Letter urging the US Department of Labor to ensure adequate quality controls in apprenticeship programs approved for GI Bill
Letter urging the FCC to protect veterans’ internet access
In an age when work, banking, communicating, healthcare, and more are all tied to the internet, it is important to protect the internet access to those veterans who need it most.
Veterans and Military Organizations Ask University of Phoenix to Stop Deceiving Veterans
Veterans and Military Organizations Ask Buyers of University of Phoenix to Voluntarily Close 90/10 Loophole, Stop Deceptive Recruiting of Veterans and Service Members
OUR ADVOCACY
See how we are working to advance higher education success, protecting the integrity and promise of the GI Bill.
Our Advocacy Letters
We collaborate with our veteran & military allies to maximize our collective advocacy impact. We frequently submit formal letters, with policy recommendations, to federal agencies and Congress.
We work with Congressional Committees and Members to introduce bills, hold hearings, and urge the executive branch to protect military-connected students.
Our Work with the Executive Branch
We work with federal agencies to ensure military-connected students’ hard-earned education benefits are successful and effective.
Our Work with the States
An emerging area of our work is helping state policymakers better understand and address the need to improve college quality and accountability.
Congressional Roundtable: From GI Bill Student to U.S. Representative
In 2020 we hosted a roundtable discussion featuring Members of Congress who used federal education benefit programs like the GI Bill to support their journey through higher education. Learn what they said about their experience and more.
