The American Legion Association of Veterans Education Certifying Officials

ECONOMIC DIVISION n Education n Homeless Veterans n Employment n VA Home Loans n Veterans Preference n Small Business Licensing and Certification Licensing and Certification

Objectives Brief History of The American Legion Brief History of The American Legion Expectation of the GI Bill Expectation of the GI Bill How The American Legion is making a difference in higher education How The American Legion is making a difference in higher education

The American Legion History with Education and creators of the GI Bill The American Legion History with Education and creators of the GI Bill Department of Veterans Affairs, The GI BILL’s History Department of Veterans Affairs, The GI BILL’s History “Harry W. Colmery, a former national commander of the American Legion, is credited with drawing up the first draft of the GI Bill. It was introduced in the House on Jan. 10, 1944, and in the Senate the following day. Both chambers approved their own versions of the bill.” ( ml) “Harry W. Colmery, a former national commander of the American Legion, is credited with drawing up the first draft of the GI Bill. It was introduced in the House on Jan. 10, 1944, and in the Senate the following day. Both chambers approved their own versions of the bill.” ( ml) mlhttp:// ml

American Legion Post on Campus Increase of student-veterans creating American Legion Post on College Campus American Legion Post 397, Hodges University, Florida American Legion Post 397, Hodges University, Florida North Dakota State University Post 400, North Dakota State University North Dakota State University Post 400, North Dakota State University University Veterans Legion Post 360, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis University Veterans Legion Post 360, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

Continue Lake Erie Community College Lake Erie Community College University of North Dakota, Post 401 University of North Dakota, Post 401 Colorado State University - Pueblo Colorado State University - Pueblo University of Akron University of Akron Florida Institute of Technology Florida Institute of Technology 6

American Legion Federal Legislation Involvement America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2014: Increase and create pipelines into the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2014: Increase and create pipelines into the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2015 : Tuition Assistance, readiness, training, education, job performance through education. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2015 : Tuition Assistance, readiness, training, education, job performance through education. 7

Continued Higher Education Reauthorization Act (HEA): data collection, reporting of data, prior learning assessments, Competency based education, etc. Higher Education Reauthorization Act (HEA): data collection, reporting of data, prior learning assessments, Competency based education, etc. H.R. 4248, Veterans Education Outcomes Act: Would require IHL to disseminate information with respect to the completion rates, employment rates, and retention rates of recipients of GI Bill funding H.R. 4248, Veterans Education Outcomes Act: Would require IHL to disseminate information with respect to the completion rates, employment rates, and retention rates of recipients of GI Bill funding 8

Continued Higher Education Reauthorization Act (HEA): Higher Education Reauthorization Act (HEA): H.R. 3136, Advancing Competency-Based Education Demonstration Project Act of 2013: to establish a demonstration program for competency-based education H.R. 3136, Advancing Competency-Based Education Demonstration Project Act of 2013: to establish a demonstration program for competency-based education 9

continued Department of Veteran Affairs: Department of Veteran Affairs: Issue: Currently veterans who submit for a reimbursement of approved licensing test exam fees are charged a month of entitlement regardless of the cost of the exam. Low cost exams are being charged one month entitlement similar to exams that may cost up to $ for the academic year Issue: Currently veterans who submit for a reimbursement of approved licensing test exam fees are charged a month of entitlement regardless of the cost of the exam. Low cost exams are being charged one month entitlement similar to exams that may cost up to $ for the academic year Recommendation: Congress change the current law to reimburse VA approved exams at a pro-rated number of days of entitlement scaled to the cost of the exam. Recommendation: Congress change the current law to reimburse VA approved exams at a pro-rated number of days of entitlement scaled to the cost of the exam. 10

The continued vigilance of The American Legion - the GI Bill’s creator and driving force – remains essential for ensuring that this 21 st Century GI Bill is refined to the point where it deserves the title, “The Most Significant Legislation of the 21 st Century.” 11

Questions?

THE AMERICAN LEGION Contact Information: Steve Gonzalez, Assistant Director: Office Number: