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Washington, DC -- Today, the House passed the bipartisan Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, which includes the Yellow Ribbon for Overseas Education Act introduced by Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA). The legislation removes barriers that prohibit student veterans from using the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Yellow Ribbon Program to attend overseas universities. Congressman Jim Banks (R-IN) joined Congresswoman Wexton in introducing this legislation in May 2020.

Wexton’s legislation is expected to be signed into law by the President, after passing the Senate last week.

“I’m proud that my bipartisan legislation to help those who have served our country more easily access higher education has passed the House and is on its way to being signed into law,” said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. “The Yellow Ribbon Program offers student veterans an affordable pathway to a degree after they have served our country, and those whose academic careers take them overseas should not be left out. With my bipartisan legislation, student veterans will be able to go to the school of their choice without sacrificing the benefits to which they are entitled. The Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act will go a long way in improving the lives and livelihoods of Virginia’s veterans, and I’m pleased that there was broad support on both sides of the aisle to include my bill as part of its passage today.”

“This bill fixes a long-standing problem that prohibited schools with overseas locations from offering the Yellow Ribbon program to student veterans studying at those campuses. With this bill in place, our nation’s veterans will be able to take advantage of the Yellow Ribbon Program to its full extent, no matter where they attend school. SVA supports this common-sense solution and hopes to see it signed into law soon so the Department of Veterans Affairs can quickly implement these changes,” said Justin Monk, Policy Associate for Student Veterans of America.

The Yellow Ribbon Program helps pay higher education costs for student veterans that exceed the amount covered by the Post-9/11 Veterans’ Education Assistance Act, known as the Post-9/11 GI Bill. That maximum amount covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill for the 2020-2021 school year is $25,162.14.

Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, the VA and participating institutions of higher learning agree to match a certain amount of the additional costs not covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This helps further reduce the financial burden for veterans pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degrees, especially those who are attending private or out-of-state schools where costs tend to be higher. The program is available to all veterans who are at the 100% Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit level, including Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship recipients and Purple Heart recipients.

However, current law only allows the Program to apply to U.S. institutions. Student veterans have raised this issue after being blocked from using the Program benefits at schools overseas, and their concerns were brought to the attention of Congresswoman Wexton’s office. The Yellow Ribbon for Overseas Education Act would clarify the existing VA code to extend Yellow Ribbon Program eligibility to overseas schools, removing the barriers currently in place that are holding back some veterans from pursuing the higher education opportunities of their choice.

Wexton’s legislation is endorsed by the Student Veterans of America.

The full text of the Yellow Ribbon for Overseas Education Act can be found here.

An overview of other key provisions included in the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 can be found here.

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