releases: https://web.archive.org/web/20140222222954/http://schwartz.house.gov/press-release/schwartz-offers-bipartisan-plan-provide-veterans-priority-college-registration
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://web.archive.org/web/20140222222954/http://schwartz.house.gov/press-release/schwartz-offers-bipartisan-plan-provide-veterans-priority-college-registration | Schwartz Offers Bipartisan Plan to Provide Veterans Priority College Registration | 2013-11-08 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | PA | Allyson Schwartz | S001162 | web.archive.org | legacy | Washington, D.C. – During next week’s commemoration of Veterans Day, U.S. Reps. Allyson Y. Schwartz (PA-13) and Phil Roe, M.D., (R-TN) will introduce bipartisan legislation to provide veterans, service members and their families priority when registering for college classes. The Student Veterans Priority Enrollment Act ensures that veterans and students serving in the armed forces can take full advantage of the federal education benefits they have earned for themselves and their families. “As the daughter of a Korean War veteran, I am committed to ensuring that the men and women who have served our nation in uniform receive the educational advantage they earned while defending our nation,” Schwartz said. “This bill will help veterans graduate from college before their GI Bill benefits expire. Our veterans deserve the opportunity to get the most out their education benefits so they can fulfill their academic goals and begin successful careers in civilian life.” “When men and women return from service, we must ensure they have all the tools necessary to transition back into civilian life, including access to education,” Roe said. “This bill will ensure that colleges and universities grant priority course enrollment to veterans, active and reserve service members, National Guard and qualifying dependents, while also making sure the institution isn’t burdened with the requirement to overhaul their current priority enrollment systems. I am pleased to be working with Congresswoman Schwartz on this important bipartisan legislation.” The Student Veterans Priority Enrollment Act provides veterans, service members, National Guardsman, or veterans’ qualifying dependents the same early priority course enrollment available to other student populations, the most common being student athletes and honors students. The bill would not require colleges or universities to change their existing priority enrollment systems and it would only impact institutions that receive tuition payments from the Defense Department or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Priority registration for veterans is a needed resource, not a perk. Veterans have a limited amount of time before their GI Bill or other education benefits earned through military service expire. For instance, benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill are limited to 36 months, support offered under the VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program is capped at 48 months, and VA Veterans Retraining and Assistance benefits last one year. If a student veteran is unable to enroll in a required course prior to their benefits expiring then those benefits have been wasted. This could force them to pay tuition and fees out of pocket to complete their course of study because of an unnecessary financial burden, or they may not be able to complete their degree plan at all. More than 900,000 veterans, service members and family members nationwide, including 27,493 Pennsylvanians, received educational benefits through the VA in fiscal year 2012. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported this week on the recent surge in veteran enrollment at colleges and universities in the Philadelphia region. The Inquirer noted that Temple University has seen its number of student veterans soar from 200 to almost 700 over the last several years, while the number of veterans enrolled at Penn State Abington has more than doubled to roughly 100 since 2008. STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT: The Student Veterans Priority Enrollment Act is supported by Student Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Military Officers Association of America, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Ray Kelley, VFW National Legislative Director: “When a veteran arrives at college, he or she only has so many months to complete their degree before their earned GI Bill benefits run out. With this in mind, the VFW believes that colleges that offer priority enrollment to other students must also accommodate student-veterans to ensure they can earn their degrees in a timely manner. The VFW is proud to support Congresswoman Schwartz’s efforts to make this happen.” James Ulinski, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and faculty member at Penn State University Abington: As an advisor to Penn State Abington’s Student Veterans Organization, Ulinski played a key role in the campus’ implementation this year of priority registration for student veterans. “As a Vietnam Veteran with a 20 percent service-connected disability, I can appreciate the opportunities the GI Bill provided for me and my family. We need to continue working to level the playing field for our veterans and their families. The passage of this legislation is another step forward in showing our appreciation for the many sacrifices they have made for us.” Michael Dakduk, Student Veterans of America Executive Director: “Student veterans have a limited amount of time to use their GI Bill, or other VA education benefits. With priority enrollment, veterans can enroll in courses early, stay on track for graduation, and maximize their VA education benefits. It is a win-win for the school and student veterans. We fully support the Student Veterans Priority Enrollment Act.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |