WASHINGTON – A Purple Heart recipient named Pat contacted U.S. Sen. Patty Murray about his inability to transfer GI bill benefits to his children because he received the medal after being medically discharged. In response, Murray and Sen. Thom Tillis introduced the Purple Heart Veterans Education Act to allow retroactive award recipients to transfer benefits to dependents.
The bill, announced just before Memorial Day, aims to close the loophole that prevents post-9/11 Purple Heart recipients from transferring education benefits. The legislation will also allow veterans to split benefits among dependents and prevent benefits from being treated as marital property.
Pat, who received a Purple Heart for his actions during a missile barrage in Iraq, highlighted the issue when trying to transfer benefits to his child attending college. He contacted Murray, who acknowledged the oversight and worked to address it through legislation.
The bill has been praised by veterans groups, including the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. The Congressional Budget Office estimates a cost of $500,000 over 10 years for the legislation.
Since 2001, the number of Purple Heart recipients has increased due to the recognition of traumatic brain injuries. Previous laws only allowed access to full GI Bill benefits for Purple Heart recipients with 36 months of active service. The new legislation aims to ensure all Purple Heart recipients and their families receive the necessary support for education.
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