Bill Would Aid Dependents Needing Schooling

H.R. 6093, introduced last week, and S. 3421 contain provisions to allow spouses and dependent children to begin receiving Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance without waiting for the severely injured service member to be discharged from active duty. Currently, family members must wait until the military member has received a VA rating stating that the injuries are permanent and total before being entitled to educational assistance under Chapter 35 of title 38, U.S.C. In many instances, this means a wait of one-to-two years. For a surviving spouse such a wait can pose an onerous financial hardship, say the sponsors of the legislation, House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer, the chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and the ranking member, Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii.