May 22, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 86 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E655]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                GI BILL ACCESS TO CAREER CREDENTIALS ACT

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                  HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN

                    of the northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 2019

  Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the GI Bill Access to 
Career Credentials Act, which would allow Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA) educational assistance to cover the cost of approved 
preparatory courses for professional license and certification exams. 
By covering these courses under the GI Bill, veterans and their 
eligible family members will have better access to the support they 
need to enter in-demand careers in health care, teaching, technology 
and other fields that may require government licenses and 
certifications. To ensure quality and accountability, courses eligible 
for reimbursement must be approved beforehand by their State Approving 
Agency based on current requirements in law.
  For the past 75 years, the VA estimates the GI Bill has helped more 
than 25 million veterans and their families nationwide including the 
Marianas achieve their educational and career goals. During this time, 
Congress expanded the GI Bill to cover non-tuition expenses such as 
college admissions test fees, admissions test preparatory courses and 
exam fees for licenses and certifications. While the more than 5,700 GI 
Bill students across the country over the last year and half used their 
license and certification exam fees reimbursement benefit according to 
the VA, courses designed to help them pass these tests, such as a $400 
nurse licensing exam course offered by Northern Marianas College, are 
not reimbursable. Not all students pass these exams on their first 
attempt which is why the GI Bill must be updated so VA educational 
assistance covers both preparatory courses and reimbursement of test 
fees for licenses and certifications.
  Around 20 to 30 percent of graduating seniors each year enter the 
military according to the Marianas Public School System. When these 
future veterans transition to civilian life, the GI Bill benefits they 
earned should help prepare them to succeed in an economy increasingly 
reliant on technical skills which often requires paying for various 
tests, professional licenses, and other credentials. The gentleman from 
Indiana, Mr. Banks, is an original cosponsor of the bill. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, endorsed by the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, which will help veterans and their eligible 
family members access the necessary credentials to make their 
educational and career dreams a reality.

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