Veterans benefits may expire

WASHINGTON — The fate of two veterans bills that had been on the verge of becoming law depends on whether the House of Representatives returns for a post-Christmas legislative session to work on deficit reduction legislation.

That is far from certain.

The House abruptly left town Thursday after Republican leadership was unable to get enough votes to pass its latest proposal in the tug-of-war with the White House and Senate over economic policy.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the House could return as early as Thursday.

Coming schedule

If the House doesn’t return, pending legislation — including the two veterans bills that the Senate passed Tuesday — would expire and would have a chance of becoming law only if reintroduced when the new session of Congress convenes Jan. 3.

Both measures were supposed to be added to what the House calls its “suspension calendar,” a pile of bills that circumvent legislative procedures.

Most bills passed this way are approved with a voice vote. If a recorded vote is required, a twothirds’ majority is required for passage.

Education benefits

One, HR 4057, helps veterans use their GI Bill education benefits wisely by ensuring they get more information to help them pick a college. It also tries to prevent schools from recruiting veterans aggressively solely because of their generous benefits, which are paid directly to the schools.

Ryan Gallucci of Veterans of Foreign Wars, the nation’s largest organization for combat veterans, said the idea behind the measure is to “ensure student veterans are armed with the information to make sound educational choices.”

The bill includes a long list of information about schools and benefits that the Veterans Affairs Department would have to make available to people interested in using their GI Bill benefits. It also bars schools from receiving any veterans payments for tuition and fees if they pay recruiters commissions or bonuses for signing up students.

Gallucci said the bill reinforces a presidential executive order issued last year that requires some of the same information, and it also builds on an expansion of transition assistance classes for separating service members that offers more information on how to pick the best college.

Other issues

The second bill, SB 3202, is a collection of other veterans legislation. Some of what it covers:

» Establishing a registry of veterans exposed to toxic fumes and chemicals from open-air burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.

» Making several changes in burial benefits and procedures.