The American LegionAssociation of Veterans Education

Certifying Officials2014

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ECONOMIC DIVISIONECONOMIC DIVISION

EducationEducation Homeless VeteransHomeless Veterans EmploymentEmployment VA Home LoansVA Home Loans Veterans PreferenceVeterans Preference Small BusinessSmall Business Licensing and CertificationLicensing and Certification

ObjectivesObjectives

• Brief History of The American LegionBrief History of The American Legion• Expectation of the GI BillExpectation of the GI Bill• How The American Legion is making a How The American Legion is making a

difference in higher education difference in higher education

The American Legion The American Legion History with Education and History with Education and

creators of the GI Billcreators of the GI Bill

Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, The GI BILL’s The GI BILL’s HistoryHistory ““Harry W. Colmery, a former national commander of the Harry W. Colmery, a former national commander of the

American Legion, is credited with drawing up the first American Legion, is credited with drawing up the first draft of the GI Bill. It was introduced in the House on Jan. draft of the GI Bill. It was introduced in the House on Jan. 10, 1944, and in the Senate the following day. Both 10, 1944, and in the Senate the following day. Both chambers approved their own versions of the bill.”chambers approved their own versions of the bill.” ( (http://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/history_timeline/index.html))

American Legion Post on CampusAmerican Legion Post on Campus

Increase of student-veterans creating Increase of student-veterans creating American Legion Post on College CampusAmerican Legion Post on College Campus

• American Legion Post 397, Hodges American Legion Post 397, Hodges University, FloridaUniversity, Florida

• North Dakota State University Post 400, North Dakota State University Post 400, North Dakota State UniversityNorth Dakota State University

• University Veterans Legion Post 360, University Veterans Legion Post 360,

Indiana University-Purdue University Indiana University-Purdue University IndianapolisIndianapolis

ContinueContinue

• Lake Erie Community CollegeLake Erie Community College

• University of North Dakota, Post 401University of North Dakota, Post 401

• Colorado State University - PuebloColorado State University - Pueblo

• University of AkronUniversity of Akron

• Florida Institute of TechnologyFlorida Institute of Technology66

American Legion Federal Legislation American Legion Federal Legislation Involvement Involvement

• America Competes America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2014: Reauthorization Act of 2014: Increase and create pipelines into the Increase and create pipelines into the Science, Technology, Engineering, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fieldsand Mathematics (STEM) fields

• National Defense Authorization National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2015 Act (NDAA) of 2015 : Tuition : Tuition Assistance, readiness, training, Assistance, readiness, training, education, job performance through education, job performance through education.education.

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Continued Continued

• Higher Education Reauthorization Act Higher Education Reauthorization Act (HEA): (HEA): data collection, reporting of data, prior data collection, reporting of data, prior learning assessments, Competency based learning assessments, Competency based education, etc.education, etc.• H.R. 4248, H.R. 4248, Veterans Education Outcomes Act: Would Veterans Education Outcomes Act: Would

require IHL to disseminate information with respect require IHL to disseminate information with respect to the completion rates, employment rates, and to the completion rates, employment rates, and retention rates of recipients of GI Bill fundingretention rates of recipients of GI Bill funding

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Continued Continued

• Higher Education Reauthorization Higher Education Reauthorization Act Act (HEA):(HEA):• H.R. 3136, H.R. 3136, Advancing Competency-Based Advancing Competency-Based

Education Demonstration Project Act of Education Demonstration Project Act of 2013: to establish a demonstration 2013: to establish a demonstration program for competency-based educationprogram for competency-based education

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continuedcontinued

Department of Veteran Affairs: Department of Veteran Affairs: Issue: Issue: Currently veterans who submit for a Currently veterans who submit for a

reimbursement of approved licensing test reimbursement of approved licensing test exam fees are charged a month of entitlement exam fees are charged a month of entitlement regardless of the cost of the exam. Low cost regardless of the cost of the exam. Low cost exams are being charged one month exams are being charged one month entitlement similar to exams that may cost up entitlement similar to exams that may cost up to $1601.69 for the academic year 2013. to $1601.69 for the academic year 2013. 

Recommendation:Recommendation: Congress change the Congress change the current law to reimburse VA approved exams current law to reimburse VA approved exams at a pro-rated number of days of entitlement at a pro-rated number of days of entitlement scaled to the cost of the exam.scaled to the cost of the exam.

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The continued vigilance of The American The continued vigilance of The American Legion - the GI Bill’s creator and driving Legion - the GI Bill’s creator and driving force – remains essential for ensuring that this force – remains essential for ensuring that this 2121stst Century GI Bill is refined to the point Century GI Bill is refined to the point where it deserves the title, “The Most where it deserves the title, “The Most Significant Legislation of the 21Significant Legislation of the 21stst Century.” Century.”

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Questions? Questions?

THE AMERICAN LEGIONTHE AMERICAN LEGION

Contact Information: Steve Gonzalez, Assistant Director:

Email: sgonzalez@legion.orgOffice Number: 202-263-5761