{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140301114852/http://butterfield.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=22&itemid=687", "Butterfield Discusses Veterans' Education Equity Act with ECU Student Veterans Group", "2013-09-17", "2013", "2013-09", "Democrat", "House", "NC", "G. Butterfield", "B001251", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today met with students from East Carolina University\u2019s (ECU) Pirate Veterans organization to discuss and underscore student veteran issues including the need to equalize veterans\u2019 tuition benefits under the Post 9-11 GI Bill.\n\n\tIn February, Congressman Butterfield introduced H.R. 595, the Veterans\u2019 Education Equity Act of 2013, to reward equal educational benefits to veterans whether they choose to attend a private or public institution of higher learning.\u00a0 The bill would change an inequity in existing law which allots more education funds to veterans enrolled in private colleges than those in public institutions.\u00a0 Currently, the Post 9-11 Veterans\u2019 Educational Improvements Assistance Act capped the education benefit amount for veterans who enroll in private schools at $18,077.50 and limited the education benefit for those who enroll in public schools to the amount charged for in-state tuition and fees.\u00a0 The Veterans\u2019 Education Equity Act of 2013 would remedy this inequality and allow all veterans to receive up to $18,077.50 in education benefits.\n\n\t\u201cOur veterans deserve access to affordable education to help them succeed in their transition back to civilian life,\u201d said Butterfield.\u00a0 \u201cOne way we can support veterans is to eliminate the inequity in tuition benefits for student veterans enrolled at private universities versus public universities.\u00a0 Equalizing tuition benefits for veterans would increase affordability and access to education at exceptional state institutions like East Carolina University.\u201d\n\n\tECU\u2019s Pirate Veterans serves as the voice for student veterans with regard to veterans\u2019 issues at the university.\u00a0 The Pirate Veterans Organization provides a civic, educational, and social network for student veterans and their families to connect and share information and experiences.\u00a0 One important goal of the group is to make it easier for veterans to attend college.\n\n\tThe Veterans\u2019 Education Equity Act has received the support of the American Council on Education, the Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, the Association of American Universities, the American Association of Community Colleges, the University of North Carolina System, and the North Carolina Community College System.\n\n\tSenator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the companion bill, S. 262, in the Senate.\n  \n\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140301114852/http://butterfield.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=22&itemid=687"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3346420601010323, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}