House Passes Rep. Messer’s Proposal to Help Vets Impacted by ITT Tech Closure

A bipartisan proposal spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Luke Messer (R-IN) and U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) to help veterans impacted by school closures unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives today, as part of a landmark GI Bill reform package.

The Takano-Messer proposal retroactively restores GI Bill benefits to veterans who were attending Indiana-based ITT Technical Institute and California-based Corinthian Colleges, both of which closed abruptly impacting tens of thousands of students nationwide, including thousands of veterans.

The Takano-Messer proposal passed the House today as part of the Harry Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, which improves and modernizes several aspects of the GI Bill.

“Today’s bipartisan GI Bill reform package is a big win for our veterans. Among many improvements, the bill helps thousands of veterans who lost their GI Bill benefits when ITT Tech closed,” Messer said. “Our military men and women count on their GI Bill benefits to build a career and life after serving our country. This bill will make sure they get that chance.”

Messer heard from many veterans following ITT Tech’s closure, including Jason Nyikos, a U.S. Navy veteran from Greenfield, Indiana, who had to start his degree completely from scratch, after spending two years at ITT Tech.

“Not a single credit transferred, and Jason’s GI Bill is going to run out before he can finish a new degree,” Messer said. “Jason’s story is one among thousands. Our veterans deserve better.”

The Takano-Messer proposal provides full restoration of GI Bill benefits within 90 days to students who attended ITT Tech and Corinthian Colleges, if they were not able to transfer their credits to a new institution. It also helps veterans who may be impacted by a school closure in the future. It mirrors previous legislation introduced by Takano and Messer.

“Restoring both tuition and housing benefits to veterans for a semester cut short by a school closure is simply the right thing to do,” Takano said. “And by making this provision retroactive, we are restoring a measure of justice for the students at ITT Tech and Corinthian, as well as others across the country who have been left out in the cold by a college that shuts down without warning.”

The Harry Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 must now pass the Senate and be signed by the President to become law.