The Warren Sun

Representative John James from Michigan's 10th Congressional District has reintroduced the Reforming Education for Veterans Act. This legislation aims to support servicemembers, especially those in the National Guard who are pursuing higher education, by allowing them to complete their courses on time.

The bill was first introduced in 2024. As a representative of a district that includes Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Rep. James is focused on improving conditions for members of the Michigan National Guard both at Selfridge and throughout the state.

In a statement, Rep. James expressed his dedication to supporting servicemembers: "I have been fighting for Selfridge Air National Guard Base from the beginning, pushing for fighter unit recapitalization and, just as importantly, supporting our warfighters. They serve us; we must serve them. As a veteran, I want to ensure that receiving orders does not obstruct educational pursuits. After meeting Guardsmen at Selfridge and across Michigan, I learned about the obstacles they can face in completing their education. Their toughest battles should not be bureaucratic barriers during or after service."

The Reforming Education for Veterans Act allows covered servicemembers who receive orders to make agreements with higher education institutions (IHEs) to complete courses if they have finished at least half of the course content.

Additionally, it modifies how IHEs handling VA education benefits conduct annual compliance surveys by permitting schools with multiple campuses to file one survey if one certifying official oversees all campuses' veteran enrollment. It also sets notice periods for institutions with or without timestamp databases regarding changes in school certification official handbooks related to VA education programs.