Armed Forces Educational Assistance Act of 1980
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Armed Forces Educational Assistance Act of 1980 - Establishes an Armed Forces Educational Assistance Program for persons who enter military service after September 30, 1980, and serve on active duty for three years or more. Sets forth a schedule of educational assistance entitlement for such veterans as follows: (1) for service of 36 consecutive months but less than 48 consecutive months and an agreement to serve three years in the Ready Reserve, 18 months of assistance; (2) for service of 48 consecutive months but less than 72 consecutive months and an agreement to serve four years in the Ready Reserve, 36 months of assistance; and (3) for service of 72 consecutive months, 36 months of assistance. Allows eligible veterans who have served on active duty for 16 years by September 30, 1986, to transfer their educational entitlement to their spouse or children. Makes any veteran entitled to assistance under this Act eligible to participate in the Predischarge Education Program (PREP) and eligible for education loans. Provides that such veterans are eligible for educational assistance for the six-year period following their discharge or release date. Sets forth procedures extending any applicable time period for such veterans who are prevented from initiating or completing a program of education under certain circumstances. Directs the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to pay tuition costs and a substantial allowance to eligible veterans in the program. Makes technical and conforming amendments to existing laws relating to veterans educational assistance. Grants to eligible veterans, who have served on active duty from three to six years, the right to transfer educational assistance entitlements to such veteran's spouse or children in such manner as prescribed by the Administrator concerned and under limitations set forth in this Act. Terminates the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance program after September 30, 1982. Requires the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs and the Secretary of Defense to submit a joint report to the Congress, not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act, on plans for implementing the educational assistance provided in such Act. Directs the Secretary of Defense to report semiannually to Congress on the effect of such program on the number and quality of individuals entering the Armed Forces.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on July 22, 1980. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on July 22, 1980: Referred to House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
G. WHITEHURST (R-VA) introduced it on July 22, 1980, and 25 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 10 Democrats, 15 Republicans.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on July 22, 1980, 16851 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16851 days ago, on July 22, 1980.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers