H.R. 6034 — VET Extension Act of 2025

This section states congressional findings regarding the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance program (i.e., Post-9/11 GI Bill) of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The findings are that (1) eligible individuals requiring remedial or deficiency courses exhaust their entitlement before completing a program of education; and (2) servicemembers without dependents during service cannot transfer entitlement upon later acquiring dependents.

This section establishes an increase of up to 15 months (lesser of 15 months or months required, as determined by the Secretary) in entitlement to educational assistance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill (38 U.S.C. ch. 33)—normally 36 months—for eligible individuals who (1) have exhausted such entitlement, (2) used entitlement within the prior 180 days, and (3) are pursuing a program of education at an institution of higher learning (as defined in 38 U.S.C. 3452) that requires more than 120 semester hours (or 180 quarter hours) due to completed or attempted remedial or deficiency courses. (As background, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides tuition, housing, books, and supplies payments to eligible post-9/11 era veterans, service members, and certain family members for higher education and vocational training.) This section makes conforming changes to (1) update cross-references in 38 U.S.C. 3312(a); and (2) revise the aggregate receipt limit under 38 U.S.C. 3695 from 48 months to 48 months plus the additional months received under new 38 U.S.C. 3312(d). (Thus, qualifying individuals may receive up to 63 months aggregate assistance across GI Bill programs.)

This section modifies transfer rules for unused Post-9/11 GI Bill (i.e., chapter 33 of title 38, U.S. Code) educational assistance entitlement—up to 36 months per service member—to eligible dependents (i.e., spouses, children under 10 U.S.C. §1072(2)) by (1) permitting service members lacking current eligible dependents to elect transfer to unspecified future dependents, with designations made later upon acquiring such dependents; and (2) eliminating time limitations on transfers (previously subject to 38 U.S.C. §3321 and subsections (k)-(l)) while authorizing revocation or modification, including by designating new dependents. (Thus, the changes enhance recruitment and retention incentives by allowing greater timing flexibility in designating transferees.)