Madam Chair,

I appreciate the opportunity to provide testimony before your committee about the Test Prep for Heroes Act (H.R. 3948).  This is bi-partisan legislation that I introduced along with my colleague from the Florida delegation, Congressman Ron Klein.  Twenty Seven of our colleagues have joined us in cosponsoring this bill. 

In crafting this legislation, we understand the important role Congress has in meeting the needs of those that have so bravely served America in uniform across the globe.  While we acknowledge that there may be greater needs on the horizon for our nation’s veterans, we believe that the Test Prep for Heroes Act will help to provide an important benefit to those men and women in uniform that return home with dreams of attending college, law school, medical school, or any other advanced education.

Under current law–through the Post 9/11 GI Bill–veterans are entitled to a reimbursement of up to $2,000 for the costs of licensing and certification tests.  The law, however, provides no reimbursement for preparatory classes that are often needed to better prepare for the material covered on those tests.

Therefore, our bill would simply allow the $2,000 reimbursement to be used for one test and one preparatory course.  We do not change the overall funds available to each veteran, but simply allow them to be reimbursed for a preparatory class to help cover subject matter they may not have been exposed to for years.

It is important to note that the Montgomery GI Bill does allow for a reimbursement of $2,000 for preparatory courses and tests.  The Test Prep for Heroes Act would help to provide veterans returning home now with the same benefit available to those that served before them. 

Madam Chair, a veteran that served in Iraq or Afghanistan has the ability to be reimbursed for the cost of an SAT if he or she is wanting to attend college.  As you know, the costs of the tests themselves are minimal.  It is, however, the costs of a prep class–a comprehensive approach to better understanding material that hasn’t been covered for years–that is out of reach for many of our young veterans.

Congressman Klein and I introduced this legislation to provide our young veterans with the best possible tools to succeed.  We are not asking for more money to be allocated to each veteran or even a substantial change in law.  We are simply asking that we better equip these young men and women by providing them access to courses that will help them achieve better results in their dreams to receive a higher education.

Again, I greatly appreciate this opportunity and your focus on better serving our nation’s veterans.  I look forward to working with you and the other members of the committee to ensure that the appropriate education benefits are delivered America’s veterans in a common-sense and timely manner. 

Thank you.