Press Releases

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) introduced the VA Work-Study Improvement Act. This bipartisan legislation would modernize the existing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Work-Study program, which allows veterans to earn money while enrolled in secondary education programs, including vocational or professional programs.

The current VA Work-Study program allows student veterans to gain paid work experience while furthering their education. However, the program has not been updated recently and has become outdated. For example, the VA Work-Study program limits the types of positions a student veteran can hold which hampers professional development. Additionally, the existing program relies on a paper-based payment system; does not allow student veterans to be paid the local minimum wage if it is higher than the federal or state minimum wage; and only allows student veterans to work a maximum of 25 hours on average per week.  

The VA Work-Study Improvement Act would require the VA to implement several reforms to the VA Work-Study program to maximize the positive impact on student veterans and improve program transparency.

“As the VA modernizes other education benefits, the VA Work-Study program can’t be left behind. These commonsense improvements to the program would ensure that student veterans are best positioned for future employment,” said Rep Cartwright. “This bipartisan legislation is an opportunity to honor veterans’ sacrifices and set them up for success once they leave the classroom.”

Specifically, this legislation would:

·         Expand eligible VA Work-Study activities to include jobs at nonprofit and state agencies that would either directly, or indirectly, benefit veterans or the U.S. military.

·         Permit payment at local minimum wage rates, allowing student veterans to be paid whichever is higher of either the state, federal or local minimum wage.

·         Increase allowable work hours to permit student veterans to work up to 40 hours on average per week.

·         Enable electronic timesheet recordation, in addition to the current paper-based system.

·         Require the VA to publish certain VA Work-Study data annually, including participant demographics and counts, work-study activities, hours worked, wages paid, and participating institutions.

Cosponsors of this legislation include U.S. Reps André Carson (D-IN-07), Ed Case (D-HI-01), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18), Derek Kilmer (D-WA-06), Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ-02), Annie Kuster (D-NH-02), Rick Larsen (D-WA-02), Ted Lieu (D-CA-33), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ-01), Deborah Ross (D-NC-02), Michael San Nicolas (Del.-D-GU-AL), Darren Soto (D-FL-09), Dina Titus (D-NC-01), David Trone (D-MD-06), Susan Wild (D-PA-07), and Rob Wittman (R-VA-01).

This legislation has been endorsed by the Student Veterans of America, American Council on Education , American Legion, Association of Community College Trustees, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, Disabled American Veterans, Military Officers Association of America, and Paralyzed Veterans of America.

“We know that a service member’s successful transition to civilian life is not complete until they’re able to obtain meaningful employment, which is why our organization actively works to reduce barriers to employment and education for veterans,” said Disabled American Veterans  National Service Director Jim Marszalek. “That’s why we’re proud to support the VA Work-Study Improvement Act of 2022, which would expand qualified VA work-study activities, bring payment in line with local minimum wages, and improve program transparency among others. We applaud Rep. Cartwright for his forward-thinking and leadership in introducing this important legislation.”

"The VA Work-Study program is a critical source of financial support for student veterans, but the program suffers from serious limitations. First conceptualized by VFW-SVA Fellow John Randolph of The Pennsylvania State University, the VA Work-Study Improvement Act would expand eligible work activities and hours, authorize payment at the local minimum wage when higher than state and federal rates, modernize time-sheet recording, and ensure VA collects important data to better understand how the program is serving beneficiaries," said Justin Hauschild, Policy Counsel with Student Veterans of America. "We applaud Representative Cartwright for his leadership on this issue and for championing comprehensive legislation to improve the VA Work-Study program."

Text of the bill can be viewed HERE.