Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has introduced the Veteran STEM Scholarship Improvement Act, a bill to help veterans take full advantage of the scholarship provided to veterans studying science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM fields).
“Unfortunately, these scholarships benefit no one if the requirements to use them exclude many of the very programs we aim to promote,” said Sen. Cornyn. “By broadening this scholarship to apply to more of the STEM programs offered in veterans’ communities, I hope we will encourage more veterans to take advantage of this benefit. Making it easier to use the benefits offered is one small way we can help transition our leaders on the battlefield to leaders in STEM fields.”
Background:
The Nourse STEM Scholarship, created by the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 and supported by Sen. Cornyn, provides an additional nine months or $30,000 of GI Bill eligibility to student veterans pursing a STEM degree. Current law mandates that eligible STEM programs exceed 128 required credit hours; however, most programs in the United States and the average STEM degree program in Texas require less than 128 credit hours. This bill would reduce that requirement in the Nourse STEM Scholarship to reflect that STEM programs should exceed 120 required credit hours so that more veterans are able to take advantage of the scholarship.
A companion bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives on June 24, 2019.
Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees.
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