As the VA celebrates the 3rd anniversary of the Colmery Act, we are proud to see the impactful changes it has brought to education benefits. Not only has the Colmery Act helped make educational benefits more accessible to the Veteran community and their families, it has also introduced additional support programs and improvements over the past three years.
On August 16, 2017, the Colmery Act was signed into law. It contained 34 provisions, many of which enhance and expand education benefits for GI Bill students. This year, we continued to implement Colmery Act provisions, paving the way for future Veteran generations. We are proud to say 33 out of 34 provisions have been implemented with the next one being the expansion of the Yellow Ribbon to certain active duty service members in August 2022!
Since the Colmery Act was passed, enhancements to Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits have included:
Restoration of entitlement due to school closure or disapproval with over 18,000 months of benefits restored to date
Elimination of the time limit for using benefits
100% guaranteed benefit level for Purple Heart Award recipients
Launch of Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) pilot program (which has helped more than 300 Veterans find employment after program completion)
$47 million in additional benefits awarded to recipients of the Edith Nourse Rogers Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Scholarship
Elimination of 40% benefit level and expansion of the 50% and 60% levels
Independent Study Programs increased by 300%
And more as the number of GI Bill beneficiaries continues to increase
Take a look at our new VAntage Point post and 3rd Anniversary Video for a deeper dive into some of the Colmery Act’s most exciting educational enhancements and highlights!
As you continue to use your GI Bill benefits, know that it is our primary objective to support you by providing you the benefits and resources you need to achieve your education goals. We invite you to explore our products and guides listed below.
“Building Your Future with the GI Bill” is a three-part series that helps support service members, Veterans and their families through the educational journey to find a fulfilling civilian career
The Postcard Series explains new Colmery provisions and answers frequently asked questions
Infographics that detail stakeholder outreach and feedback
Military to Civilian Transition Talk series features GI Bill updates from Charmain Bogue Executive Director of Education Service