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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6377 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6377
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the eligibility
of siblings of certain veterans for educational assistance under the
educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 3, 2025
Ms. Brownley introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the eligibility
of siblings of certain veterans for educational assistance under the
educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``This act may be cited as the ``Gold
Star Siblings Educational Benefits Act''.
SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF SIBLINGS OF CERTAIN VETERANS FOR EDUCATIONAL
ASSISTANCE UNDER DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM.
(a) Eligibility.--Paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of section 3501
of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or sibling'' after
``spouse'';
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``spouse or child''
and inserting ``spouse, child, or sibling'';
(3) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``or sibling'' after
``spouse'' both places it appears; and
(4) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``spouse or child''
and inserting ``spouse, child, or sibling''.
(b) Sibling Defined.--Such subsection is further amended by adding
at the end the following new paragraph:
``(13) The term `sibling' means a brother or sister,
whether by blood, adoption, or through a recognized
guardianship or family relationship.''.
SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY OF SIBLINGS OF CERTAIN VETERANS FOR EDUCATIONAL
ASSISTANCE UNDER MARINE GUNNERY SERGEANT JOHN DAVID FRY
SCHOLARSHIP.
(a) Eligibility.--Each of paragraphs (8), (9), and (10) of
subsection (b) of section 3311 of title 38, United States Code, are
amended by striking ``child or spouse'' and inserting ``child, spouse,
or sibling''.
(b) Sibling Defined.--Paragraph (4) of subsection (f) of such
section is amended to read as follows:
``(4) Definitions.--For purposes of paragraphs (8), (9),
and (10) of subsection (b):
``(A) The term `child' includes a married
individual or an individual who is above the age of
twenty-three years.
``(B) The term `sibling' means a brother or sister,
whether by blood, adoption, or through a recognized
guardianship or family relationship.''.
SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY OF SIBLINGS OF CERTAIN VETERANS FOR EDUCATIONAL
ASSISTANCE TRANSFERRED UNDER POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) Eligibility.--Section 3319 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(2)--
(A) by striking ``has the meaning given the term
`dependent' under subparagraphs (A), (I), and (D) of
section 1072(2) of title 10.'' and inserting ``means an
person who, with respect to an individual approved to
transfer an entitlement to educational assistance under
this section, is--''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraphs:
``(A) a dependent referred to in subparagraph (A),
(D), or (I) of section 1072(2) of title 10; or
``(B) the sibling of the individual.'';
(2) in subsection (g)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or a sibling
23 years of age or older'' after ``spouse''; and
(B) in paragraph (2),
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by inserting ``or a sibling under the age
of 23'' after ``child''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or
sibling'' after ``child'' both places it
appears;
(3) in subsection (h)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by inserting ``or a sibling 23
years of age or older'' after ``a
spouse''; and
(II) by inserting ``or the
sibling'' after ``the spouse''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by inserting ``or a sibling
under the age of 23'' after ``a
child''; and
(II) by inserting ``or the
sibling'' after ``the child'';
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or
a sibling 23 years of age or older'' after
``spouse''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or
a sibling under the age of 23'' after
``child'';
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as
paragraphs (7) and (8), respectively; and
(D) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following
new paragraph (6):
``(6) Limitation on age of use by sibling transferees.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraphs (B) and (C), a sibling to whom
entitlement is transferred under this section may use
the benefits transferred until the later of the
following dates:
``(i) The 15-year delimiting date specified
in section 3321.
``(ii) The date on which the sibling
attains the age of 26 years.
``(B) Primary caregivers of seriously injured
members of the armed forces and veterans.--
``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii),
in the case of a sibling who, before attaining
the age of 26 years, is prevented from pursuing
a chosen program of education by reason of
acting as the primary provider of personal care
services for a veteran or member of the Armed
Forces under section 1720G(a) of this title,
the sibling may use the benefits beginning on
the date specified in clause (iii) for a period
whose length is specified in clause (iv).
``(ii) Inapplicability for revocation.--
Clause (i) shall not apply with respect to a
period during which an individual acts as a
primary provider of personal care services if
the period concludes with the revocation of the
individual's designation as such a primary
provider under section 1720G(a)(7)(D) of this
title.
``(iii) Date for commencement of use.--The
date specified in this clause for the beginning
of the use of benefits by a sibling under
clause (i) is the later of--
``(I) the date on which the sibling
ceases acting as the primary provider
of personal care services for the
veteran or member concerned as
described in clause (i);
``(II) the date on which it is
reasonably feasible, as determined
under regulations prescribed by the
Secretary, for the sibling to initiate
or resume the use of benefits; or
``(III) the date on which the
sibling attains the age of 26 years.
``(iv) Length of use.--The length of the
period specified in this clause for the use of
benefits by a sibling under clause (i) is the
length equal to the length of the period that--
``(I) begins on the date on which
the sibling begins acting as the
primary provider of personal care
services for the veteran or member
concerned as described in clause (i);
and
``(II) ends on the later of--
``(aa) the date on which
the sibling ceases acting as
the primary provider of
personal care services for the
veteran or member as described
in clause (i); or
``(bb) the date on which it
is reasonably feasible, as so
determined, for the sibling to
initiate or resume the use of
benefits.''.
(4) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(m) Definition of Sibling.--In this section, the term `sibling'
means a brother or sister, whether by blood, adoption, or through a
recognized guardianship or family relationship.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
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