Rep. Jimmy Gomez and Rep. Ben Ray Luján Introduce Bill to Increase VA Work-Study Allowance for Student Veterans
Washington,
November 10, 2017
“Our legislation would provide student veterans in Los Angeles and across the nation the opportunity to earn an education and put money in their pockets to meet the needs of their families. It’s our responsibility as Members of Congress, regardless of party lines, to unite around legislation that reflects our duty to help veterans," said Rep. Jimmy Gomez.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressmen Jimmy Gomez (D – CA) and Ben Ray Luján (D – NM) introduced the Wage Adjustment for Veterans Enrolled in School (WAVES) Act. The bill would raise the minimum wage standard for full-time or 3/4-time students within the Federal Work Study program under the GI Bill. Current law provides student veterans receiving VA educational benefits with a work-study allowance equal to the Federal minimum wage or the State minimum wage, whichever is greater. The law does not take into account the local minimum wage, which at times is higher than both the Federal and State rates. The WAVES Act would make an addition to applicable minimum wage standards within the work-study program by including the “local government” minimum wage. “Generations of valiant men and women have put their lives on the line to ensure the safety of our nation and to defend the rights and freedoms that define what it means to be American. While we may never be able to truly repay the debt owed to these courageous warriors, we must continue to ensure that, upon their return, our veterans are given the care they deserve and are successfully transitioned back into civilian life,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez. “Our legislation would provide student veterans in Los Angeles and across the nation the opportunity to earn an education and put money in their pockets to meet the needs of their families. It’s our responsibility as Members of Congress, regardless of party lines, to unite around legislation that reflects our duty to help veterans.” Under the WAVES Act, veterans in Los Angeles, a city that currently has a $12 per hour minimum wage slated to increase to $15 by 2021, would receive the Los Angeles rate instead of the California minimum wage rate of $10.50 per hour. “As we gather this weekend in communities large and small to honor those who have served our country, we must remember that the true measure of how we honor our veterans will be determined by how we treat them when they return home,” said Rep. Luján. “We owe our veterans more than praise and gratitude. It is never acceptable for our veterans to fall behind their civilian counterparts. Unfortunately, that is what has happened here and we must work hard to address the issue. Our legislation would ensure that our veterans are paid fairly, have access to the benefits they have been promised, and are equipped to pursue successful careers when their service is complete. Let’s all work together to make sure our veterans who go back to school after their service are able to better support themselves and their families.” Across the country, at least 40 local governments have a higher minimum wage rate than the Federal or State rate. They include: Albuquerque, New Mexico; Berkeley, California; Bernalillo County, New Mexico; Birmingham, Alabama; Chicago, Illinois; Cook County, Illinois; Cupertino, California; El Cerrito, California; Emeryville, California; Flagstaff, Arizona; Las Cruces, New Mexico; Los Altos, California; Los Angeles County, California; Los Angeles, California; Malibu, California; Milpitas, California; Montgomery County, Maryland; Mountain View, California; Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties, New York; New York City, New York; Oakland, California; Palo Alto, California; Pasadena, California; Portland Urban Growth Boundary, Oregon; Portland, Maine; Prince George’s County, Maryland; Richmond, California; San Diego, California; San Francisco, California; San Jose, California; San Leandro, California; San Mateo, California; Santa Clara, California; Santa Fe City, New Mexico; Santa Fe County, New Mexico; Santa Monica, California; SeaTac, Washington; Seattle, Washington; Sunnyvale, California; and Tacoma, Washington. Original co-sponsors include Representatives Anthony Brown (MD-4), Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-1), Eleanor Holmes-Norton (DC), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8), Pramila Jayapal (WA-7), Ted Lieu (CA-33), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Chellie Pingree (ME-1), Scott Peters (CA-52), Jamie Raskin (MD-8), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), John Sarbanes (MD-3), Terri Sewell (AL-7), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Nydia Velázquez (NY-7), and Adam Smith (WA-9). ###
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