December 8th, 2021 by WCBC Radio
Representative David Trone (MD-06) applauded the passage of the Responsible Education Mitigating Options and Technical Extensions (REMOTE) Act, which he introduced alongside Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) and Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Chairman Mike Levin (CA-49). The Act will protect education benefits for veterans amid the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
By law, the Department of Veterans Affairs is required to make significant cuts to the housing benefits afforded to student veterans who are taking classes remotely. As student veterans transitioned to online coursework during the pandemic, many remained in campus housing during shelter-in-place orders. Nonetheless, under the existing law, these students lost their housing benefits. In response, Congress took action to prevent cuts to veterans’ benefits as higher education institutions continued remote learning. The REMOTE Act will preserve this modification through June 2022.
“The REMOTE Act ensures that student veterans receive the education benefits they need during an ever-changing and evolving pandemic,” said Congressman Trone, Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “I applaud my colleagues in the House for supporting this important legislation to protect the benefits of those who served our country. I want to thank Chairman Takano and Chairman Levin for their leadership. Together, we are giving student veterans a greater opportunity to achieve academic success.”
“When schools rightly shifted their classes online due to the pandemic, many student veterans saw a major reduction in housing benefits,” said Chairman Takano. “Last year, we passed my emergency Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act to ensure these veterans could access their full benefits, but as it is set to expire this month, it is clear that more relief is needed. That is why I am so pleased the House of Representatives passed Rep. Trone’s REMOTE Act today to ensure that our student veterans don’t lose the critical housing benefits they have earned. I want to thank Rep. Trone for leading this effort to safeguard student veterans’ benefits during this pandemic.”
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