Good afternoon Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin, Ranking Member Boozman and members of the Subcommittee.  Thank you for the opportunity to speak on H.R. 3579, legislation to increase veteran reporting fees to institutions of higher learning.

While we have made improvements to the G.I. Bill to address the current educational needs of our veterans, we have failed to address the growing demands placed upon certifying officials responsible in assisting student veterans enrolled in a college or university program. 

As some of my colleagues may know, VA employees were initially assigned to Institutions of Higher Learning to administer only one veteran education program for veterans.  These VA employees were later removed in 1976 and the responsibility of certifying student veterans was placed on Institutions of Higher Learning by paying the school $7 for each student certified.  In 1976, $7 may have been a reasonable amount but it no longer reflects the actual costs for the expanded services.  After 34 years the time has come to update the amount to reflect today’s costs.

My legislation seeks to address this very important issue by increasing the reporting fees payable to institutions of higher learning from the outdated $7 per student to $50 per student.  This amount better reflects today’s increasing demands placed on school officials. 

I share their concerns of student veterans and education officials alike and I am confident that H.R.3579 is a key piece of the puzzle that will provide Institutions of Higher Learning the resources to train certifying officials on the various benefit options available to student veterans and hire appropriate staff to prevent future delays in benefits.  Our nation’s veterans certainly deserve the best services their school may provide. 

I want to thank my colleagues Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin and Ranking Member Boozman for their continued work in the Subcommittee.  I look forward to working with all of my colleagues to provide our nation’s veterans with education benefits in a timely manner.  Madam Chair, I would be happy to address any questions that the Subcommittee may have regarding my testimony.