House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee Examines Employer-Aligned Education Opportunities for Veteran Students

On Tuesday, House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chairman Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) convened a two-panel oversight hearing titled “Strengthening the Workforce of Veterans in America.” This hearing examined how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides non-traditional educational opportunities through apprenticeships, on-the-job training (OJT), and the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to ensure its work aligns with the job market and meets the needs of today’s veterans.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Van Orden noted the importance of American defense manufacturing as a national security issue and that there are thousands of veterans available to fill these jobs. The Chairman highlighted the benefits of Veterans using their Post-9/11 GI Bill (PGIB) benefits for VA’s on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs.

However, Chairman Van Orden decried the declining usage rate of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for these programs, citing only 1,008 apprenticeships and 776 OJT participants in 2023, representing less than 1 percent of the PGIB population, with some states having zero veterans participating. 

Panel 1 Witnesses

• Mr. Kenneth Smith, Executive Director at Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs
• Ms. Chantile Stovall, Acting Executive Director at Veteran Readiness and Employment Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs

Ranking Member Chris Pappas (D-NH) began his opening remarks by expressing concerns about Chapter 35 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) benefit payment delays and Congress’s learning about the growing number of veterans experiencing delays through the press. The VA has yet to respond to a letter that he along with House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Members Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) sent requesting information on the delays and an expected timeframe for a resolution. In response, Kenneth Smith stated that the VA has been working to address delays and that he looked forward to providing full statistics at the staff briefing scheduled for today (Friday, December 5) and at an upcoming hearing in a couple of weeks.

Turning to the hearing topic of employment pathways for veterans, Ranking Member Pappas stated that employers navigating programs at the VA, the Department of Defense (DoD, newly named the Department of War), and the Department of Labor (DOL) find their systems to be confusing and poorly aligned with employers’ needs. He stated that the key to job placement is early engagement with employers on programs like SkillBridge and Veterans Technology Education Courses (VET TEC), and that programs run by employers, trade groups and unions providing on-the-job training, upskilling, and certifications continue to prove successful in job placement. The Ranking Member concluded his opening statement by focusing on his points of interest for the employer panel, which were hearing about interactions with DoD, DOL, and VA veterans programs, thoughts on further specializing employment programs, visions for a single point of entry for employers, and how best to and who should be responsible for advertising the benefits of participating in these programs to the business community. Lastly, he posited that any program that “drains” GI Bill benefits must ensure veterans are gainfully employed, protect veterans from bad actors, and meet the original intent of Congress to help servicemembers reintegrate into communities. 

Representatives Tom Barrett (R-MI), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), and Kimberly King-Hinds (R-CNMI) raised 4-year universities versus skilled trades training, noting that more veterans are opting for 4-year universities, only 20 percent of veterans are using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for non-degree programs, and only 3.5 percent of veterans in the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program pursue vocational or technical training while just 0.4 percent in the program participate in apprenticeships. The Members questioned whether reimbursements rates, the values of the programs offered, and awareness are possible reasons for this trend. Mr. Smith stated that:

• VA does not have a mechanism to assess veterans’ decisions on educational pathways
• ROI perceptions for 4-year universities tend to be higher than non-degree or apprenticeship programs and expressed VA’s willingness to
• work with Congress, employers, and other stakeholders to address perceptions of value for trade schools
• VA should do a better job at marketing job opportunities to build awareness
• VA should partner with employers to overcome apprehensions about arrangements requiring enrollment and other documents sharing

Ms. Chantille Stovall added that 96 percent of VR&E program participants use the employment through long-term services track and only 2.5 percent use the rapid access track, which is used for veterans with skills. Many veterans exit service with multiple skills and only need resume and job development services to help them, and her staff is looking at what’s driving veterans toward the employment through long-term track, what can be done to increase participation in other tracks that may be more appropriate, and best ways for veterans to “sell” their skillsets to employers. Staff in her department are also assessing top 4-year degree programs and how VR&E can match those with OJT and apprenticeships to get veterans employed more quickly. 

Representative Barrett also asked for clarity on caps for skilled trade institutions and apprenticeships that limit the number of students they can accept who receive GI Bill benefits and if there is a waiver. Mr. Smith confirmed that the statutory 85/15 rule places a limitation that allows funding of “up to 85 percent supportable through government programs” for these institutions and that VA can issue a waiver for an individual to exceed 35 percent.

Reps. Ramirez and Ciscomani asked about employment rates and implementation of improvements to the VET TEC program under the Dole Act. Rep. Ramirez highlighted that more than half (51 percent) of veterans did not find employment after 180 days of program completion and asked if veterans’ benefits should be restored so they are not left paying for training that does not lead to gainful employment. Rep. Ciscomani found it unacceptable that the Dole Act was signed into law over a year ago and VA has yet to implement improvements to the VET TEC system that the bill authorized.  

Responding to Rep. Ramirez, Mr. Smith said, “based on the statute and design of the VET TEC program authorized by the Dole Act, if there is no remaining entitlement, the veteran is allowed to train without costs, so they are allowed to enroll and pursue the VET TEC program and then they are charged entitlement if they do have remaining entitlement.” In addressing implementation delays raised by Rep. Ciscomani, Mr. Smith explained that because of the changes to the program’s requirements, the VA has been working to update its claims processing tool and its payment system also needs updating to support the program. This work is expected to be completed in the 3rd quarter of Fiscal Year 2026.

Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY) was the only Member to ask whether the Department of Education’s (ED) student financial aid loan limits for students seeking advanced degrees in health care would impact veteran students who rely on their GI Bill benefits and federal loans to cover the full cost of programs. Specifically, the Member wanted to know if GI Bill coverage of nursing programs would remain separate from ED’s proposed definition of “graduate” and “professional” degree for the purposes of aid eligibility. Mr. Smith was unsure about the details of ED’s proposed rule or if it would impact VA payments, and said statute allows the VA to pay 36 months of educational benefits and that VA would continue to administer GI Bill benefits to all veterans. Rep. Kennedy also raised Chapter 35 DEA payment delays.

The following pieces of legislation received support from the Chairman during the hearing:

• HR 982, the Warriors to Workforce Act, sponsored by Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), would increase educational assistance for veterans participating in their first year of a full-time apprenticeship or on-job training by raising the benefit rate from 80% to 90%.
• HR 1458, the Veterans Education and Technical Skills (VETS) Opportunity Act of 2025, sponsored by Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), would extend educational benefits in the Post-9/11 GI Bill to include both in-person and partially online (or hybrid) versions of skilled trade training programs. NOTE, while the bill uses the term “independent study programs,” “hybrid” or “online” does not appear in the bill. The above description was pulled from the Member’s press release. Additionally, VA is currently undergoing a rulemaking process to distinguish distance learning from independent studies. In a submitted regulatory comment to the VA, CECU recommended VA go further by adopting a definition for hybrid learning as a third modality for learning to accompany resident and distance learning. 
• HR 2954, the Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act of 2025, sponsored by Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), would allow VA to act as a State Approving Agent for apprenticeship programs in more than one state to receive VA approval, thereby streamlining “the approval process for interstate trucking companies’ apprenticeship programs to partner with VA.”
• HR 3055, the Transitioning Retiring And New Service Members to Port, Ocean, Rail, and Truck (TRANSPORT) Jobs Act, sponsored by Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI), would direct the Department of Transportation to collaborate with the departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Labor to develop a “Veteran to Supply Chain Employee Action Plan” aimed at reducing barriers to entry and helping veterans enter supply chain careers. This bill passed the House by unanimous consent in September 2025. 

The second panel opened with witness background statements and policy recommendations.

Panel 2 Witnesses

• Mr. David Bostic, Service Development Manager, Aftermarket & Customer Support for Region 4, Deere & Company
• Mr. Jerome A. Grant, Chief Executive Officer, Universal Technical Institute Inc.
• Mr. Greg Hamm, Vice President of Field and Government Recruiting, Werner Enterprises on behalf of the American Trucking Associations
• Mr. Gary LaBarbera Jr., Business Agent at Teamsters Local 282, Teamsters Trade Advisor to Helmets to Hardhats 
• Mr. Ying Vang, Human Resources Manager, ORC Industries

Mr. David Bostic, a Marine Corps veteran, detailed shortages of equipment technicians at John Deere’s network of independently owned dealers and his work to launch a military hiring program in 2019 to connect dealers with skilled veterans. Since that time, John Deere dealers have hired roughly 800 veterans, including over 300 SkillBridge interns. He encouraged the subcommittee to strengthen partnerships between the government and employers, as employers know firsthand their workforce gaps and needs, and support transition programs like SkillBridge. He recommended that Congress 1) establish employer advisory councils to help shape transition programs like SkillBridge, 2) expand incentives for small- and medium-sized employers to hire veterans and participate in transition programs, and 3) create a centralized employer portal to “streamline veterans’ benefits, track outcomes and share best practices across industries.”

Mr. Jerome Grant shared an overview of the programs offered at Universal Technical Institute and Concord Career College campuses and highlighted that admissions and financial aid counselors were trained on VA benefits, military scholarships, tuition reductions, and career coaching. More than 3,300 veterans and military affiliated students have enrolled at UTI and Concord schools. Success is determined by employment rates measured across the full employment cycle. Four out of five UTI graduates secure field-related employment within one year of completing their program and graduates receive lifetime support with placement assistance and continuing education, underscoring UTI’s commitment to strong credentials that lead to strong, good-paying careers. Using examples of companies with unfilled high wage technical jobs, Mr. Grant pointed to the need for expanding training pipelines for skilled technical careers. 

Mr. Greg Hamm, an Army veteran now representing the American Trucking Association, extolled Werner Enterprises as one of the nation’s largest employers of veterans and military families, with 20% of their 13,000 employees being service connected. He shared stories of veterans using their GI Bill benefits to enroll in registered apprenticeship programs to pursue careers ranging from professional drivers to technicians, and logistics managers. Hamm recommended the federal government to increase funding for the Department of Transportation’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) grant program to expand access to quality CDL programs and pass the Warriors to Workforce Act, the Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act, and the TRANSPORT Jobs Act.

Mr. Gary LaBarbera, a retired Marine Corp Reservist now the Teamsters’ Trade Advisor to the Helmets to Hardhats program, focused on the role Teamsters’ play in supporting veterans transitioning to civilian life, including through registered apprenticeship programs and careers in unionized building trades. Through partnerships with DOL, trade unions, and employers, Teamsters have connected 55,000 veterans to good paying careers since 2003. Mr. LaBarbera prioritized a “large expansion” of CMVOST through increased funding in the Surface Transportation Reauthorization.

Mr. Ying Vang spoke about the nationwide shortage of manufacturing workers, citing the National Association of Manufacturers’ estimate that 2.1 million jobs will need to be filled by 2030, including in the “overlooked” cut and sew manufacturing sector. He identified this as an economic opportunity problem and recommended that congress 1) expand DOL’s registered apprenticeship programs, provide additional training, and consider funding incentives for veterans to increase the worker pipeline, 2) remove constraints on the GI Bill to increase access to short-term, skill focused training programs and condense training stackable credentials in trades, and 3) help employers and non-profit manufacturers with training costs ($3,000-5,000 per new hire) by “de-risking the investment.”

Ranking Member Pappas praised employer-driven programs and asked David Bostic, Greg Hamm, and Gary LaBarbera about their recommendations and views on a centralized employer portal, the impact of the Veteran Improvement CDL Act passed in 2024, and guardrails to protect veterans from CDL bad actors, respectively. Mr. Bostic said there would be great value in having a central place, with one website and one phone number and one email address, where veterans can determine what benefits they are eligible for at specific programs. Mr. Hamm stated that the industry has seen advantages from the law, including veterans being unburdened by state-by-state GI Bill restrictions resulting in expanded access to quality education. 

Rep. Ciscomani provided statistics showing that only 3.5 percent of veterans are enrolling in technical and vocational training programs, opting instead for 4-year universities, despite most people who enter a trade school graduating debt-free and making a good living. He asked Mr. Grant about policy or administrative barriers that impede veterans from enrolling in technical programs and how Congress can help expand access to high-wage technical careers. Mr. Grant raised two contributing factors. First, the GI Bill, while well-earned, can be difficult to navigate for departing servicemembers who must choose between a 4-year school or technical school, which is complicated by the fact that not every technical school qualifies for GI Bill benefits, not every program at a qualifying technical school is eligible for the benefits coverage, and not every technical school has online or hybrid programs. It’s simply easier for veterans to choose a 4-year university. Second, there must be a cultural shift that places as high a value on trade schools as is placed on a 4-year university education. He informed the committee that UTI has 153 career counselors on high school campuses, yet hundreds of schools won’t allow UTI’s career counselors on their campus because they want their students to attend a 4-year school and not a trade school. 

Congresswoman Ramirez expressed appreciation for the work employers are doing to ensure veterans have good paying jobs. As an issue she has been working on since joining Congress, Rep. Ramirez said efforts should be made to protect veteran benefits from bad actors and veterans need assurance that their education programs are high-quality and results in good paying jobs. She urged support of her bill, the Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act of 2025 (HR 1391), which passed the House last Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support including from Chairman Van Orden. The current version of the bill has only Democratic support.

Rep. Ramirez asked Mr. Grant about changes to non-degree independent study programs that now warrant their inclusion in GI Bill eligibility after Congress acted in 2017 to remove that eligibility due to fraud and exploitation. She also asked Mr. Bostic about metrics Congress should consider when distinguishing between high-quality training providers and programs with no real career opportunities after completion. Mr. Grant respectfully said he could not speak for the entire education industry but raised concerns about GI Bill’s 36-month cap and students who choose to pursue multiple programs after completing their first program but not receiving credit. Mr. Bostic said outcomes must be tracked, especially in skilled trades, and employment is a good measure of success. Mr. Bostic also said restoring benefits for veterans who were defrauded would be beneficial for employment rates and veteran career progression.

Rep. McGarvey asked Mr. LaBarbera about safeguards Congress should put into place to ensure GI Bill funds only go to high-quality training providers and Mr. Bostic for a pathway forward for VA to formalize employer advisory councils to ease entry into SkillBridge for small businesses. Mr.  Rep. McGarvey stressed that veterans need jobs, not just programs, and that employer-focused pathways work. He ended with accountability and transparency for short-term programs and VA implementation of the Dole Act. 

Chairman Van Orden stated that the “education industrial complex” has turned into a racket, where kids go to school with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt with no ability to be employed. He also said there is room for both 4-year universities and trade schools. He asked all witnesses if their current recruitment practices include going to military bases to talk to separating military personnel. All witnesses answered in the affirmative. He stressed that in addition to military bases, they also need to connect with veteran service organizations.

In closing, Ranking Member Pappas said it was important to track skill growth, income, and career building long-term to see if the programs discussed in the hearing are successful for veterans.