To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit an educational institution from withholding a transcript from an individual who pursued a course or program of education at such institution using Post-9/11 educational assistance.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would create a new protection for military veterans and service members who use their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to pay for college or other educational programs. Specifically, it would make it illegal for schools to withhold a student's academic transcript as a way of pressuring them to pay outstanding debts or fees. In other words, if a veteran used GI Bill funding to attend a school, that school could not hold their transcript "hostage" over any unpaid balance.

Transcript withholding is a common practice at many colleges and universities, where schools refuse to release a student's official academic records until all financial obligations are settled. This can be a serious problem for veterans, who sometimes face billing disputes, administrative delays, or gaps in their GI Bill payments through no fault of their own. Without access to their transcripts, veterans may be unable to transfer to another school, apply to graduate programs, or show proof of their education to potential employers.

This bill would directly affect veterans and active-duty service members using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, as well as the colleges, universities, and vocational schools they attend. Schools that accept GI Bill students would be prohibited from using transcript withholding as a collections tool against those students. The bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives and has advanced through a subcommittee, but has not yet been voted on by the full Congress.