July 17, 2014   

Today Representatives Dina Titus (NV-1) and Chris Stewart (UT-2) introduced legislation to provide the Secretary of Veterans Affairs expanded authority to allow educational facilities to accept veterans using their GI Bill to further their education. Under current law, the VA is unable to approve educational facilities to accept veterans using their GI Bill benefits if the school has not been operating for two full years. This restriction precludes new branches of institutions that have a proven and lengthy track record of helping veterans continue their education and transition back to civilian life. This legislation will provide the Secretary the ability to waive the two year requirement for new locations of institutions if the institution has been operating elsewhere for two years and has previously been approved to accept veterans using their GI benefits. 
 
“I am proud to introduce this important legislation that will open up additional educational opportunities for veterans in Nevada and throughout the United States,” said Titus. “During a recent tour of an aviation maintenance school, I learned that despite having more than ten locations throughout the country, the Las Vegas branch was unable to welcome veterans using their GI Bill benefits. This legislation will help them open their doors to transitioning airmen from Nellis Air Force Base, and all of the veterans who choose to live in Las Vegas.”
 
"As an Air Force veteran, I'm particularly proud to introduce this legislation. It's an important common-sense bill that simply gives more educational choice and opportunity for our veterans," Stewart said. "Veterans and their families sacrifice so much to defend our freedoms — they deserve to be treated like the heroes they are. This is one simple way to do just that."