This bill, known as the "Gold Star Siblings Educational Benefits Act," aims to significantly expand educational assistance benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to include siblings of certain veterans. It specifically amends provisions related to the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35) and the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship . These changes ensure that brothers and sisters, whether by blood, adoption, or recognized family relationship, can access these vital educational resources, aligning their eligibility with that of spouses and children. Furthermore, the legislation modifies the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program to allow for the transfer of educational benefits to eligible siblings. It establishes specific conditions for these transfers, including age limitations, generally allowing benefits to be used until the later of a 15-year delimiting date or the sibling's 26th birthday. A crucial provision creates an exception for siblings who serve as primary caregivers for seriously injured veterans, enabling them to defer and later utilize their transferred benefits under defined circumstances, acknowledging their significant contributions.
Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better
Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Armed Forces and National Security
This act may be cited as the “Gold Star Siblings Educational Benefits Act
USA119th CongressHR-6377| House
| Updated: 1/5/2026
This bill, known as the "Gold Star Siblings Educational Benefits Act," aims to significantly expand educational assistance benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to include siblings of certain veterans. It specifically amends provisions related to the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35) and the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship . These changes ensure that brothers and sisters, whether by blood, adoption, or recognized family relationship, can access these vital educational resources, aligning their eligibility with that of spouses and children. Furthermore, the legislation modifies the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program to allow for the transfer of educational benefits to eligible siblings. It establishes specific conditions for these transfers, including age limitations, generally allowing benefits to be used until the later of a 15-year delimiting date or the sibling's 26th birthday. A crucial provision creates an exception for siblings who serve as primary caregivers for seriously injured veterans, enabling them to defer and later utilize their transferred benefits under defined circumstances, acknowledging their significant contributions.