	Introduction

As of FY2018, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers benefits under six GI Bills: the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance program (Post-9/11 GI Bill), Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA), Montgomery GI Bill—Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR), Montgomery GI Bill—Active Duty (MGIB-AD), Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP), and Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP). The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Colmery Act; P.L. Post-9/11 GI Bill Amendments

The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 ("Post-9/11 GI Bill")—originally established by Title V of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 ( P.L. 110-252 ) and enacted on June 30, 2008—is the newest and most widely used GI Bill. Post-9/11 GI Bill Eligible Individuals

Prior to the enactment of the Colmery Act, to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, servicemembers and veterans were required to fulfill a minimum aggregate period under qualifying active duty service orders on or after September 11, 2001, and meet other requirements. Under the new provisions, an individual with at least 6 months, but less than 12 months, of qualifying active duty service increases from 50% of the full benefit level to 60%. However, if an individual was on active duty on the first day of a month, the individual was not eligible for a housing allowance for any portion of that month. Under the STEM Scholarship, the VA is authorized to grant up to an additional nine months of entitlement to selected Post-9/11 GI Bill participants. Section 112 of the Colmery Act eliminates the delimiting dates for some individuals—making the Post-9/11 GI Bill the "forever GI Bill" for some. This provision went into effect upon the bill's enactment. There is no delimiting date 
for a qualifying individual whose last discharge or release from active duty was on or after January 1, 2013; for a spouse using benefits transferred from a qualifying individual who was last discharged or released from active duty service on or after January 1, 2013; and for a Fry Scholarship recipient who first became eligible on or after January 1, 2013. The provision was intended to become effective on December 16, 2017. Reduction in DEA Entitlement

Section 202 of the Colmery Act reduces the DEA entitlement from 45 months to 36 months for individuals who first enroll in a program of education for which they receive DEA benefits on or after August 1, 2018. Restoration of Entitlement for Closed Schools and Disapproved Programs of Education

Since 2015, the closure of multiple large, private for-profit institutions of higher education, such as those owned by Corinthian Colleges, Inc. (e.g., Heald College) and ITT Educational Services (e.g., ITT Technical Institutes) has disrupted the postsecondary education and career plans of many students. 115-62 , restores entitlement for individuals affected by school closures and disapproved programs of education. The SAA role is intended to ensure that veterans and other GI Bill participants have access to a range of high-quality education and training programs at which to use their GI Bill benefits. Prior to the enactment of the Colmery Act, the reporting fee for the year beginning on August 1, 2018, would have been $7 for each GI Bill and VR&E participant enrolled in a program of education or pursuing training and $12 for each GI Bill participant for whom the institution received an advanced GI Bill payment. The pilot program is intended to provide GI Bill-eligible veterans the opportunity to enroll in high technology programs of education that the Secretary determines provide training or skills sought by employers in a relevant field or industry. The VA reimburses the qualified provider for the cost of tuition and other fees for the high technology program. In addition, the reports are to include other information and several measures. Reconsideration of Previously Denied Claims

Section 502(a) of the Colmery Act requires the VA to reconsider claims for disability compensation based on exposure to mustard gas or Lewisite during World War II that had been denied before the date of the enactment of the Colmery Act.
Since the enactment of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Post-9/11 GI Bill; P.L. 110-252), Congress has enacted several bills aimed to improve it. Congress's most recent effort to refine the Post-9/11 GI Bill and respond to stakeholder feedback is the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Colmery Act; P.L. 115-48), enacted on August 16, 2017. The Colmery Act enacted over 30 amendments to the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Most provisions become effective on enactment or on August 1, 2018.
The Colmery Act is better known as the "Forever GI Bill". One of the prominent provisions of the bill eliminated the Post-9/11 GI Bill delimiting dates (period within which benefits must be used) for some individuals—making the Post-9/11 GI Bill the Forever GI Bill for some. As of enactment, there is no delimiting date for veterans whose last discharge or release from active duty was on or after January 1, 2013; for a spouse using benefits transferred from a veteran who was last discharged or released from active duty service on or after January 1, 2013; or for a Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) recipient who first became eligible on or after January 1, 2013. Other Post-9/11 GI Bill-eligible individuals must use their 36-month entitlement within 15 years of discharge or release, or by a specified age.
Another key provision that went into effect upon enactment allows the restoration of GI Bill entitlement for individuals affected by school closures and disapproved programs of education since 2015. This provision was in response to the closure of multiple large, proprietary institutions of higher education, such as those owned by Corinthian Colleges, Inc. (e.g., Heald College) and ITT Educational Services (e.g., ITT Technical Institutes) that disrupted the postsecondary education and career plans of many students.
Other Post-9/11 GI Bill amendments increase benefit levels for several groups of individuals including, but not limited to, Purple Heart recipients, individuals with at least 6 months of qualifying service but less than 12 months, Fry Scholarship recipients, and reservists on active duty on the first day of a month. Select Post-9/11 GI Bill participants pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math programs that are of longer than average duration may receive an additional nine months of entitlement through the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship (STEM Scholarship). Benefit levels for the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA) also increase, but the months of entitlement are reduced from 45 months to 36 months for individuals who first enroll on or after August 1, 2018.
The Colmery Act enacted several provisions intended to improve administration of all of the GI Bills. The VA is now required to use a risk-based approach in conducting oversight of approved programs of education in an effort to ensure they are of a high-quality and meet all statutory provisions. Additionally, school certifying officials will now be required to complete training on their GI Bill administrative responsibilities and are to have access to information to help them advise GI Bill participants.
In addition to GI Bill amendments, the Colmery Act authorizes a five-year High Technology Pilot Program. The program is intended to provide GI Bill-eligible veterans the opportunity to enroll in high technology programs of education that are not GI Bill approved, such as coding boot camps. Under the pilot, the VA reimburses education providers with successful outcomes for the cost of tuition and other fees and provides a monthly housing allowance to GI Bill-eligible veterans.
Finally, the bill requires the VA to reconsider claims for disability compensation based on exposure to mustard gas or lewisite during World War II that had been denied before the date of enactment of the Colmery Act.