A Timeline of Veterans Educational Equity and Reform: Title 38 Veterans Benefits of the United States Code
By daliaharvey
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Event: America enters World War II due to Japan attacking Pearl Harbor
America enters World War II due to the attacks at an American Naval Base located on Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii. The surprise attack killed more than 2,400 American service members and destroyed 300 naval ships and airplanes. President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress for support and declared war on Japan (History, 2019). American’s quit school to enlist in the military and some were drafted to fight in the war (American Educational History, 2019). Image: (Pearl Harbor, 2019). -
Statutory Law: Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (G.I. Bill) of -Veterans Vocational Rehab, Title: 38 U.S.C § 400 (1944).
To prepare for the return of service members who fought in World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, signed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944. The Act provided financial assistance for homebuyers, educational assistance, and counseling (2 U.S.C. §400). Vocational Rehab helped over 9,200,000 service members return to college as they pursued degrees and on-the-job training (38 U.S.C §732).
Image: 38 U.S.C § 400 (1944). -
Event: The President’s Commission on Higher Education
President Harry S.Truman urged the public to read the volumes in “Higher Education for American Democracy” and encouraged higher education institutions to integrate vocational rehab with liberal education, to end segregation and create equitable opportunities for all American citizens, to develop curriculum that promotes democracy, and to expand federal aid in higher education and offer two years of free education (Wooley & Peters, 2019).
Image: (Zook, 1946) -
Statutory Law Revision: Montgomery G.I. Bill (Chapter 30) revamped, Title: 38 U.S.C. § 1401 (1984).
On this day, President Ronald Reagan proudly stood by Mississippi Congressman, Sonny Montgomery in front of the White House in D.C, and signed the Montgomery G.I Bill (U.S.C. 38 § 1401). The law persuaded American citizens to join the military, to pursue their education, and allowed active duty service members to buy into their educational benefits for 36 months—“$1,200 buy-in and $600 buy-up option to enhance the benefit” (The American Legion, 2019).
Image: (Veteran Affairs, 2012). -
Statutory Law Revision: Post-Vietnam Era Veteran’ Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 32), Title: 38 U.S.C. § 3201 (1991).
Congress amended Title 38 to help recruit men and women to voluntarily serve in the U.S. Armed Forces (38 U.S.C. § 3201). The law allows service members to pursue their degrees at postsecondary institutions, receive technical and vocational training, and on-the-job training for 36 months as long as service members enlisted between January 1, 1997, and June 1985, contributed $25-$2700, and departed the military with honorable service (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 2017). -
Event: A Tragic day in America: Airplanes Crash into the Twin Towers in New York City on 9/11/2002
On this tragic day, millions of people around the globe turned on their televisions to see the Twin Towers tumble to the ground in flames and smoke as terrorist attacked America. The catastrophic events of 911 angered American citizens and inspired them to enlist in the Armed Forces. Once again, Congress discussed how to strengthen the weak economy and came up with a plan to reform Title 38-Veterans Benefits, to help recruit service members (Lush, 2011). Image: (Katbiggie, 2015) -
Judicial Law: The case of Kevin J. Rosenberg (Appellant), V. Gordon H. Mansfield (Appellee), Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs-go to court over Montgomery G.I. Bill (Chapter 30) VA Educational Benefits, Title: 38 U.S.C. § 3011.
The court denies the appellant's claim and used 38 U.S.C. § 3011, to prove that the appellant did not qualify for educational assistance under the Montgomery G.I Bill (Chapter 30) because the service member had received more than $3400 in assistance when he participated in the ROTC program in 1996 (Rosenberg, v. Mansfield, 2007). The service member argued that “equitable estoppel bars the termination of his educational benefits”, but lost his case (Rosenberg, v. Mansfield, 2007). -
Statutory Law Revision:Post 911 G.Bill (Chapter 33) reform, Title: 38 Veteran’s Benefits, 38 U.S.C. § 3311 (2008).
On this day, President George Bush signed the Post 911 Act which improved the original G.I. Bill of 1944. The law offers 36 months of educational benefits to active duty service members that honorably served on or after September 11, 2001 (38 U.S.C. § 3311). Key entitlements provide a yearly stipend for books and supplies, a monthly living allowance, tuition and fees paid directly to the institution, and tutorial assistance (38 U.S.C. § 3314). Image: (Military.com, n.d.). -
Statuary Law Revision: The G.I. Bill Tuition Fairness Act of 2014, Title: 38 U.S.C. § 3679.
Congress amends Title 38 to provide educational benefits to service members that are pursuing their degrees, vocational training, and on-the-job training programs at postsecondary institutions or technical colleges. The law states that educational institutions can charge veterans tuition and fees at the in-State tuition rate. The entitlement applies to honorable service members that served on or after September 11, 2001 (38 U.S.C. § 3679). Image: (Student Veteran Resources, 2019) -
Statutory Law Revision: Forever G.I. Bill, also known as the Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 Title: 38 U.S.C. § 3684, signed by President Trump
Once again, Congress amends Title 38 to expand G.I. Bill educational benefits to service members participating in Post 911 G.I Bill (Ch. 33), Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA) (Ch. 35), and Yellow Ribbon and Fry benefits programs. The new law also protects service members from VA mistakes and extends additional benefits for STEM courses (38 U.S.C. § 3684). On this day, President Donald Trump signs the bill into law. Image: (Military Times, 2017). -
Statutory Law: The Texas Hazelwood Act (Tex. Educ. Code § 54.341): An issue for Postsecondary institutions in the state of Texas
Since 1943, the state of Texas has entitled extensive educational benefits to veterans and their dependents as long as the veteran enlisted in the state of Texas. The law states that colleges and university systems must not charge students tuition, fees, and must not refuse students admission (Tex. Educ. Code § 54.341). The Act negatively impacts postsecondary institutions; an estimated $286 million dollars in tuition and fees have been exempt (Jauer, Blagg & Benton, 2016). Image: (UT, 2019)
