Bill · S. 2698· Senate(119-S-2698)
Safeguarding Department of Veterans Affairs Dependent Education Benefits Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 9/3/2025
- Last activity
- 9/3/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Angus King
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Safeguarding Department of Veterans Affairs Dependent Education Benefits Act of 2025 allows the government to reinstate Post-9/11 Educational Assistance for spouses or children. This applies if their benefits were stopped because a service member was discharged for dependent-abuse offenses. The law requires an application process that must be trauma-informed. It also establishes a review process if a request for reinstatement is denied.
Yes· 3 of 13
Would students be better off under this?+8
Directly benefits students by reinstating their educational assistance payments.
Would women be better off under this?+7
Statistically, women are more frequently victims of domestic abuse and will benefit from the reinstatement of these education funds.
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?+7
Extends the reach of education benefits to dependents of veterans who were discharged for abuse.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Reinstatement of Education Benefits: Spouses and dependent children who were victims of domestic abuse can get their transferred education payments back, even if the service member's discharge characterization normally would have ended those benefits. (Sec. 2(a))
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Trauma-Informed Application Process: The Secretary must work with veterans service organizations to make sure the application process is trauma-informed for victims. (Sec. 2(b)(3))
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Right to Review: If an application for reinstatement is denied, there are procedures in place for the spouse or child to request a review by the Secretary to overturn errors. (Sec. 2(e))
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Application Requirements: To get benefits back, the spouse or dependent child must apply and provide enough information to prove they were the victim of dependent-abuse. (Sec. 2(b)(2))
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Benefit Limitations: The amount of reinstated payments cannot be more than the unused portion of the benefits that were transferred and remained unobligated at the time of the member's discharge. (Sec. 2(c))
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Restriction on Concurrent Benefits: People cannot receive educational assistance from this program and other specific chapters of title 38 or title 10 at the same time. (Sec. 2(g))
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Students+8Good For Women+7Good For Children+6Good For Low Income Households+6Good For Young Adults+6Good For Middle Aged+5Good For L G B T Q Community+4Good For Men+4Good For Middle Class Households+4
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+7
- Education And Technology
- Improves College Affordability+6
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+4
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+3
- 9/3/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Kevin CramerRepublican · North Dakota