United Spinal's VetsFirst Pushes Education Reform for Veterans

Sen Tom Carper Announces the Military and Veterans Education Protection Act

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Jun 25, 2015, 09:10 ET

NEW YORK, June 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Spinal Association's VetsFirst program today announced its support for the Military and Veterans Education Protection Act, a bill introduced by Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) designed to improve educational benefits for our nation's military and veterans.

The bill will remedy a loophole in a law whereby the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DOD) educational dollars were deemed as non-federal funds.

The law, designed to protect all students by requiring at least 10% of tuition payments be non federal loans, left open a loophole that led to aggressive marketing towards veterans and military service members. The result was that many veterans found themselves without degrees or nontransferable credits after disreputable schools closed.

The legislation introduced yesterday at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, DC. is a solution to protect military and veteran students, as well as taxpayers, by ensuring that for-profit schools obtain at least 10 percent of their revenues from non-federal funding sources.

"VetsFirst is proud to show its support for this necessary legislation that evens the playing field and protects our nation's veterans," said Director of VetsFirst Ross Meglathery, MPA.

The new legislation would amend title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require proprietary institutions of higher education to derive at least 10% of their revenue from sources other than title IV or federal educational assistance programs for military personnel and veterans, or become ineligible for title IV funding and participation in those programs.

The Military and Veterans Education Protection Act closes the 90-10 loophole by counting VA educational programs (Post-9/11 GI Bill) and DOD educational programs (Tuition Assistance) on the 90 percent side of the 90-10 formula rather than the 10 percent side.

About United Spinal Association
United Spinal is a national 501(c) (3) nonprofit membership organization formed in 1946 by paralyzed veterans and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Americans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), including multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, ALS and post-polio. It played a significant role in writing the Americans with Disabilities Act, and made important contributions to the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act. Membership is free and is open to all individuals with SCI/D. United Spinal was instrumental in getting New York City to create sidewalk curb ramps and accessible public transportation that has been used as a model for many United States cities.

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SOURCE United Spinal Association