S.Amdt. 2918

This amendment aims to add a new section to the law regarding the Reinstatement of Entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance for Victims of Sexual Assault or Domestic Violence. Its purpose is to allow the government to bring back education payment benefits that were stopped for a spouse or dependent child.

This change applies if the payments were stopped because the service member was separated from the military or convicted of a dependent-abuse offense, resulting in a discharge that does not meet standard requirements.

Key features of this amendment include:

• Application Process: Spouses or dependent children can apply for the reinstatement of benefits. The process must be trauma-informed, with the Secretary consulting veterans service organizations.
• Payment Limits: Reinstated payments cannot exceed the unused portion of the benefits that were transferred and remained unobligated when the member was discharged.
• Determination Criteria: The Secretary concerned can determine dependent-abuse was the cause if the covered individual was convicted of the offense or if there is a preponderance of evidence in the administrative separation record.
• Review Process: The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, working with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, will create a process to review and potentially overturn denied applications if an error was made.
• Regulations: The secretaries will define which specific criminal offenses under military, federal, state, or international law count as dependent-abuse offenses.
• No Double-Dipping: Individuals cannot receive assistance from two or more different educational assistance programs at the same time.