To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize an individual who is awarded the Purple Heart for service in the Armed Forces to transfer unused Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to a family member, and for other purposes.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize an individual who is awarded the Purple Heart for service in the Armed Forces to transfer unused Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to a family member, and for other purposes.
Plain Language Summary
# HR 790 Summary **What the Bill Does:** HR 790 would allow Purple Heart recipients to share their unused GI Bill education benefits with family members like spouses or children. Currently, if a veteran doesn't use all of their Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance, those unused benefits expire. This bill would let Purple Heart recipients transfer up to 36 months of their unused education benefits to eligible dependents, who could then use them for college or other approved education programs. **Who It Affects:** This applies specifically to veterans who received the Purple Heart for service after September 11, 2001, and have been discharged from active duty.
Their spouses and children would be able to benefit from any transferred education assistance. The benefits would remain available even if the Purple Heart recipient passes away, ensuring family members can still use them. **Key Provisions:** Purple Heart recipients could transfer unused benefits but retain the right to modify or cancel any transfer by notifying the VA and Department of Defense. Importantly, transferred education benefits cannot be claimed as property in divorce proceedings, protecting them from becoming contested marital assets. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee, meaning it hasn't yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
This bill authorizes certain Purple Heart recipients to elect to transfer to one or more eligible dependents (e.g., a spouse or child) unused portions of such recipients’ entitlement to Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance. This authority specifically applies to veterans who are awarded the Purple Heart for service in the Armed Forces occurring on or after September 11, 2001, and who have been discharged or released from active service.Under the bill, the total number of months of entitlement transferred by a Purple Heart recipient may not exceed 36 months. Additionally, the Purple Heart recipient may modify or revoke any unused portion of the transferred entitlement by submitting written notice to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DOD).A transferred entitlement may not be treated as marital property or marital assets in divorce or other civil proceedings.The death of the Purple Heart recipient must not affect the use of the entitlement by the individual who receives the transferred entitlement.In the event of an overpayment of educational assistance, the Purple Heart recipient and the transferee of the entitlement must be held jointly and severally liable for the amount.The bill requires the VA and DOD to coordinate to facilitate the transfer of entitlements under the bill.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.