Rep. Panetta Introduces Legislation to Expand Educational Opportunities for Servicemembers and their Families

SALINAS, CA – Today, U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Tim Ryan (D-OH) introduced the G.I. Bill Transferability Improvement Act of 2022. This legislation focuses on expanding the accessibility of education benefits for servicemembers who have dedicated at least 12 years of honorable service to the nation. Currently, servicemembers who want to transfer their G.I. Bill education benefits to their loved ones after completing six years of service can only do so if they serve an additional four years of service at the time they apply to transfer their benefits, regardless of how many years they have served.

"Those who have steadfastly served our nation for at least a dozen years have earned the right to transfer their unused education benefits to their loved ones," said Congressman Panetta. "Our military personnel who serve that long shouldn't have to serve more time to transfer their G.I. benefits to their family members to pursue their education. Ensuring the transfer of benefits reinforces our nation's commitment to our servicemembers and their families, strengthens force resolve, and improves access to fundamental educational opportunities."

"As a Navy veteran, I am proud to introduce legislation with Congressman Panetta that would expand earned educational benefits to children and spouses of servicemembers without additional costs," said Congresswoman Sherrill. "We are fulfilling the promises we made to our servicemembers and their families by alleviating barriers to transferring the benefits they earned."

"Not only should Congress do its best to ensure our military retains the best people, we should also ensure we honor their service through the educational benefits they earn for themselves and their families," said Congressman Bishop. "This bill will eliminate the additional service obligation servicemembers incur, should they wish to transfer their educational benefits after 12 years of service. I am supporting this bill so that our servicemembers who delay starting their families–especially women–can equitably enjoy the benefits they worked hard to earn in defense of our country."

"Eastern Connecticut is home to the largest military installation in New England—SUBASE New London, which houses 10,000 sailors and officers—and to thousands more Navy retirees for whom transferability of G.I. Bill education benefits is a critical measure to reward their service," said Congressman Courtney. "We need to be working together in Congress to find every way possible to attract and retain the best talent in our Armed Services, and expanding G.I. Bill benefits for our servicemembers as they embark on the next phase of their careers is an extremely valuable way to do that. The G.I. Bill Transferability Improvement Act would make life easier for our most dedicated servicemembers and their families, and I'm proud to join Congressman Panetta as an original co-sponsor."

Congressman Kim added, "It is our responsibility to ensure benefits like the G.I. Bill are effectively working to honor our servicemembers and their families. This legislation would build off of the G.I. Bill's original goal to uplift military families and deliver them expanded education access. I am proud to support this improvement and help make sure military families who have already given years of service to our nation are not facing barriers to the benefits they have earned."

"Our military families make daily sacrifices to support our men and women in uniform. Simplifying our servicemembers' ability to pass along invaluable education benefits they've earned is the right thing to do," Congressman Ryan said. "We shouldn't ask our servicemembers to serve additional time when they've already met the requirement set by the law. This is a common-sense bill that Congress must pass."

Background:

• By law, the post-9/11 G.I. Bill transferability is meant to function as a retention tool rather than an earned benefit.
• Servicemembers wanting to transfer their education benefits after completing six years of service (YOS) can only do so if they serve an additional four YOS at the time that they apply to transfer their benefits, regardless of how many years they have served.
• This means that a servicemember who has served 20 years must still serve an additional four years in order to transfer their benefits.
• Women who delay starting a family are disproportionately affected by current policy process.

What the Bill Does:

• Ensures servicemembers who have completed at least (1) six years of service and agree to an additional four years of service, or (2) twelve years of service with no additional service required, are eligible to transfer their benefits to dependents at any time.
• This new change would—at most—require service members to serve twelve years to transfer their benefits.
• This change would still preserve the retention aspect to maintain a diverse, lethal force. However, it also recognizes that maintenance of additional service obligation past the 12 YOS mark breaks our commitments to military families.
• Therefore, this act transitions G.I. transferability from a retention tool to an earned benefit at the 12 YOS mark.

While The G.I. Bill Transferability Act of 2022 recognizes the transfer of benefits as a critical retention tool to maintain a strong force, it also recognizes that maintenance of this past the 12 years of service mark breaks our promise to military families. The G.I. Bill Transferability Improvement Act of 2022 will be referred to the House committees of jurisdiction as determined by the House parliamentarian. Representatives Panetta, Sherrill, Bishop, Courtney, Kim, and Ryan will pursue additional cosponsors and request committee consideration prior to the adjournment of the 117^th Congress.

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