The Iowa Senate unanimously passed House File 2491 on Monday, sending the bill to Governor Kim Reynolds for final consideration.
The Iowa Senate unanimously passed House File 2491 on Monday, sending the bill to Governor Kim Reynolds for final consideration. The legislation would require the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa to waive tuition and required fees for veterans who have a 100 percent service‑connected disability rating from the The cost of attending Iowa’s public universities can exceed $9,000 per year in tuition alone, not including mandatory fees, books or living expenses.
For veterans with severe service‑connected disabilities, many of whom face barriers to full‑time employment, the waiver could makeUnder the bill, veterans would be eligible for the tuition and fee waiver if they have a permanent, 100 percent service‑connected disability rating from the VA and are admitted to one of Iowa’s three public universities. They will also need to have exhausted or are ineligible for other federal or state education aid, including Pell Grants and VA education benefits. The waiver would be applied only to remaining costs not covered by other aid, effectively filling the gap between existing benefits and total tuition and fees. State Senator Sandy Salmon, a Republican who managed the bill on the Senate floor, said the legislation is intended as a show of support for veterans with the most severe disabilities. Lawmakers in both chambers described the proposal as a long‑overdue benefit for veterans who have already paid a significant price through their military service. StateAccording to the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, about 177,000 veterans live in Iowa, and roughly 47,000 of them experience some form of disability. However, only a subset of disabled veterans receive a 100 percent service‑connected disability rating, which would qualify them for the waived tuition. “The bill was framed as a move to support veterans, those who gave their time and bodies in service to the country,” Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the. “However, it requires a 100 percent disability rating from the VA to qualify for free access to Iowa’s in state institutions. That is a high bar. As many have experienced, VA math is complex. Achieving a full disability rating often requires multiple conditions and substantial evidence proving those conditions are service connected.”“This bill is opening up additional financial assistance for disabled veterans who may want to enroll in college but are still concerned over costs. While there are current options both at the federal level and in some states to provide monetary support to veterans pursuing a collegiate degree, those options still may not fully cover the cost.”“I would expect similar policies to be considered in other states, especially as military recruitment continues to struggle. We are already seeing enlistment ages increase and certain requirements being relaxed. Benefits like free tuition, and potentially housing, could become more common as incentives to drive enlistment.”Because the bill has already passed the Iowa House and Senate unanimously, the final step is approval by Reynolds. If signed into law, the tuition and fee waiver would take effect through Iowa’s public universities, with the implementation details handled by the Board of Regents. “For disabled veterans who are undoubtedly dealing with inflationary pressures in all other areas, this could be a difference-maker between thinking of and actually attending college,” Beene said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kings Rule Out DeMar DeRozan Among 3 Key Veterans for Nets GameThe Sacramento Kings will be severely shorthanded against the Brooklyn Nets.
Read more »
New York Gov. Hochul issues proclamation designating March 29 as Vietnam Veterans DayAs part of the proclamation, Hochul has directed 15 landmarks across the state to illuminate in green, yellow and red on Sunday night in recognition of the day.
Read more »
N.C. attorney general warns veterans of fake benefits scam promising cash and dentalRALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is warning veterans about a new scam offering fake benefits, including monthly payments and free de
Read more »
Formerly homeless people, including veterans, could be evicted if Trump administration plan is implementedUnder a Trump administration plan, which would affect facilities across the country, the Department of Housing and Urban Development is hoping to move many from permanent housing to temporary transitional housing.
Read more »
Apollo veterans cheer NASA's return to the moon with Artemis II launchCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The people who toiled night and day to put astronauts on the moon during Apollo are thrilled that NASA is finally going back. They just wish these Artemis moonshots had happened sooner while m
Read more »
National Vietnam War Veterans Day: Memorial tells story of Houstonians who servedThe Houston Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located in Club Creek Basin Park near U.S. 59 on the southwest side of the city.
Read more »