Sgt. Isaac Woodard, Jr. and Sgt. Joseph H. Maddox GI Bill Restoration Act of 2025

This bill addresses historical discrimination faced by Black World War II veterans in accessing benefits under the original GI Bill. Despite the race-neutral language of the 1944 Servicemen's Readjustment Act, its administration led to a pattern of discrimination, particularly against African Americans, in areas like housing loans and educational opportunities. Many Black veterans were denied access to higher education and excluded from housing guaranty programs, preventing them from achieving the full economic prosperity offered by the post-war period. To rectify these past injustices, the bill extends eligibility for certain benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Specifically, it allows Black World War II veterans who were denied benefits due to race, along with their surviving spouses and certain direct descendants , to apply for VA-guaranteed housing loans. Furthermore, surviving spouses and direct descendants of these veterans can apply for educational assistance. These new eligibility periods are limited to five years from the bill's enactment. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is mandated to implement these changes and prescribe necessary regulations within 90 days. The Comptroller General will also report to Congress on the number and value of benefits distributed under these new provisions. Additionally, the bill establishes a Blue Ribbon Panel of independent experts to develop recommendations for additional benefits and assistance specifically for female and minority veterans, with a report due to Congress and the President within one year.