Afternoon, everyone. This subcommittee will come to order. I want to apologize in advance. Im going to have to step out and i will return shortly and have asked congressman bilirakis to preside in my absence comest a thank you for that. I want to thank iran for joining us for todays hearing at the subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. The House Committee on veteran affairs over are began first oversight hearing on the implementation of h. R. 3218 the veterans Education Assistance act of 2017 also known as the forever g. I. Bill. This bill was designed or rather sign into law by President Trump on august 16, 2017 and is a great example of what congress can do when we put the American People and in this case our Veterans First and foremost. In addition to the efforts of chairman roe and other members of committee, the forever g. I. Bill would result in the efforts of many of our vs does come in two of whom are joined here with us today on the panel student veterans of america and the Tragedy Assistance Program for survivors. This is the first major improvement to the g. I. Bill since tony levin and encompassed over 30 provisions brought forth by many members of the house who share all of our commitments to the men and women who serve in uniform or alongside activeduty spouse or parent. We can all be proud of this collect of achievement to pass the forever g. I. Bill paid the subcommittee work has just begun and it is critical we were content with the va, veterans groups and other stakeholders at the department begins the implementation of this newly expanded and revised bill so we can ensure that its rolled out seamlessly. Many of you can remember the significant delays beneficiaries experienced in 2009. I actually wasnt here then but im told there were delays in 2009 and we dont want that in this round of implementation. This has been after the passage of post9 11 g. I. Bill and im sure again we can all agree such delays can happen again and its our job to identify any problems and solve them and have a smooth implementation Cost Effective for all stakeholders involved. I would be remiss if i didnt acknowledge the Va Education Service effort to schedule regular calls with the Committee Staff on both sides of the hill to update them on the implementation. However, it is important we have these hearings so we discussed as Committee Members and we as Committee Members can lend our support and help to you, general worley when others in the department to implement the reform package. I do have concern about focus the process is getting from the Senior Leadership come a scene that seems for me as we found Education Programs are often overlooked within the department as a whole. I understand the secretary of the Leadership Team have many priorities, but i hope they understand will be no small feat to execute a reform initiatives such as the bill, and which will result in over 3 billion worth of changes to the g. I. Bill for generations of veterans and families to come. Our investments and tax or investment for veterans education benefits and the impact the forever g. I. Bill will have on future success of student veterans as im sure you will agree an extremely important endeavor and weve got to get it right. The secretary of the administration do whatever they have to do to get the resources come especially the i. T. Resources in this case that they need to row the package out effectively without major hiccups again like we saw or experienced in 2009. Before i yield to Ranking Member orourke come i focus on these i. T. Resources. Im anxious to hear some of the testimony and i certainly have some questions about this. Since joining this committee, and its always been clear the upgrades are so convoluted when congress is reformed to be updated the patchwork. The subcommittee was told in the past that the plans for the systems would ensure so they can quickly address changes made in the law as we have seen however especially i want to yield to my friend for any opening remarks he might have. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Theres not too much i can add to your excellent opening comments, but thank you in the majority staff and minority staff for ensuring we have a successful hearing today for those about to testify for our colleagues in their questions. All of us want to make sure the forever g. I. Bill is implemented successfully and we anticipate any concerns ahead of time and work constructively together between congress and the administration d. C. How we can ensure those are resolved and likely chairman and see the biggest challenge being one with i. T. And appreciate the fact that general worley is hearing he can answer those questions and suggest how we Work Together to ensure that this goes smoothly and seamlessly for transitioning Service Members for veterans are now so the Service Organization to testify what they had to say. I yield back. Nor first and only panel to the table. Robert worley of the Education Service accompanied by mrs. Mrs. Chairman, Education Service and mr. Lloyd thrower information and technology. Mr. William hubbard, student veterans of america operations and policy analyst at Tragedy Assistance Program for survivors. Thank you again for being here today. Before we begin with your testimonies, and i asked the witnesses if you would please stand and raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear under penalty of perjury that the testimony youre about to provide us the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth . Thank you, please be seated. Reflect all witnesses in the affirmative your complete written statement will be made part of the hearing record and all of you will be recognized for five minutes for your oral statements. Lets begin with you. General worley come youre not recognize her five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Chairman arrington, Ranking Member orourke come implementing the assistance act of 2017, also referred to as the forever g. I. Bill. A company meet todays mr. Lloyd thrower, account manager for the benefits portfolio and machining cell, Deputy Director for operations in Education Service and vas project lead for primary act implementation. August 16, 2017 the president signed into law the act which makes sweeping changes which expands benefits in truly changes the way we view. Its the most comprehense set of changes to benefit since the enactment of post9 11 g. I. Bill in 2009. The act has become the forever g. I. Bill because of its most recognized to use their post9 11 benefits. It restores benefits to those impacted by School Closures since 2015 expands opportunities for stem and i. T. Training provides increases in funding for improving agent even enhances benefits for surviving benefits of purple heart recipients. The importance and complexity led the eight to establish a cross functional Program Executive office within existing resources responsible for leading and coordinating all forever g. I. Bill implementation at two goodies. Also in record time ba awarded a 12 Month ProgramManagement Contract to provide further support to the peo through the addition of expertise and i. T. Training and communications. The law requires a significant i. T. Effort with 22 of the 34 provisions requiring i. T. Modifications and an estimated 70 million. Oit has committed to providing solution for the most pressing provisions section 107501 with monthly housing benefits. They will assure timely processing of additional claims and will stand up new initiatives such as the edith north rogers stem scholarship by establishing specialized teams using processors and by hiring 202 additional temporary employees in the field. They have taken focusing on the 13 provisions affect that i date of enactment and executing expensive and Multifaceted Campaign to highlight and promote the improvements to affect beneficiaries and other stakeholders. Specifically va has promoted extensively for a new webpage social media, outreach activities as well as frequently asked questions. The va has posted multiple updates on his g. I. Bill face but page and holidays forever g. I. Bill and participated in a Satellite Media tour conduct being interviews with radio reaching 4 Million Viewers and listeners and then out through mass emails to 1. 2 million stakeholders a net connected multiple briefings to School Officials and Veterans Service organizations. Many of the provisions target beneficiaries of va is also connecting more targeted notification where and when needed. For example, we have identified and notified in education beneficiaries that may be available under the School Closure provision. In just under one month come of va has already received over 400 applications and has restored 1800 months of entitlement to over 200 beneficiaries. Just under four months va has moved up quickly and is working hard and successfully implementing all of the provisions of the colmery act on time. Theres a great deal of work remaining with 13 of 34 provisions affected on august 1st 2018 pba has 30 started revising regulations, training, preparing communications and more as we move forward. We look forward to continuing to work with all of our partners and stakeholders on these efforts. Thank you for the opportunity to testify, mr. Chairman and i look forward to responding to any questions you may have. Now will recognize mr. Hubbard. Youre recognized for five minutes. Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member all work and members of the Committee Committee macro writing veterans to testify in the implementation of the forever g. I. Bill 1500 chapters representing over one by 1 million student veterans and schools across the country we are pleased to share the perspective of those directly impacted by subjects before this committee. Signed into law this august h. R. 3218 commonly known as the forever g. I. Bill made history. One of the most significant pieces of Higher Education legislation to occur this century, millions of service affiliated to call greater access to education and training thanks to the efforts of this committee in the 115th congress. Would like to share some brief history from our perspective on the legislation which is a case study in partnership and bipartisan discussion. The posture we launched a special focus on the importance of sustainability and programs driven by outcomes and filled with datadriven decisionmaking the forever g. I. Bill includes dozens of solution oriented provisions such as the workstudy authorization Science Technology engineer math scholarships, removal of the time limit on the g. I. Bill and many other provisions. Which increase access to education. The new law will also address inequities of this earned benefit and looks forward to the future will be under a generation. Leading advocates for the bill we are committed to the complete and timely implementation of this law. With that interest them i would think the committee for the opportunity to highlight several key areas of success as well as some which have room for improvement. We applaud the department of Veterans Affairs to the dedicated staff were demonstrating Great Initiative in implementing the great g. I. Bill especially the Public Communications effort to make those effective aware of upcoming opportunities. Until the forever g. I. Bill, student veterans attending schools the closures were the only students in Higher Education with no recourse to recoup their benefits. The most prolific examples include the closures of corinthian colleges. Unfortunately, thousands of student veterans were adversely affected due to the poor performance of the schools we applaud va for restoration of benefits. We are concerned so few students have applied under the School Closure provision since they went out to the students. Like our concerns with reaching eligible purple heart recipients, the integrity may nobe reliable. We encourage you to partner with external organizations such as veterans of america to reach out to the widest audience possible. Turning to the edith north rogers scholarship, this provision originated from h. R. 5784 for 113 congress g. I. Bill extension act, a bipartisan bill cosponsored by david mckinley. We were a proud partner in the formulation advocacy of the effort and we are pleased to see it as law. Student veterans consistently cite this as a component of the forever g. I. Bill with which they have the greatest interest. It was being developed and became increasingly clear the implementation costs particularly of a significant driver of costs. We have Major Concerns than whether or not the office is implementing this law are receiving adequate resources to execute the overhaul. It represents a shift in education for veterans in Higher Education. That is more apparent today than ever. It has demonstrated results. Thomas jefferson in 1808 the same prudence which in private life paying their own money will unexplained projectso visit the dispensation of public money. Implementation relates question who should be allowed with the president of the va home loan programs and events do not qualify due to the rigorous and strict standards into outcomes by standards and perhaps the same should be thought about for the g. I. Bill. We think the chairman and the Ranking Member for inviting us to testify in the forward to any questions you may have. You make thank you so much. Now we recognize this is moakler for five minutes. Ranking member, mr. Orourke, the Tragedy Assistance Program for survivors thanks you for the opportunity to talk about issues important to the family served, families of the fallen. While they are to offer support for surviving families they are committed for families of the fallen and those who die for the illness or disease. We appreciate the attention paid to making sure veterans and surviving family members have benefit to give them access to quality education. They provide specialist support through the web education portal regarding the benefits available for the children and spouses of america fallen heroes. They work with each individual to the Financial Support from both government and private agencies. This also allows us to hear from survivors where they encounter problems and stumbling blocks in the process. Were most grateful for provisions included in the harry w. Colmery assistance act of 27 team that supports survivors and most appreciative of the opportunity to comment on the implementation of this legislation. We have heard from many of the top surviving spouses concerning implementation of the g. I. Bill while they are most appreciative government many have concerns. We have worked at the va to solve many of them. First of these is the date down on the va certificate of eligibility that informed the individual of the date they are no longer eligible for education benefits. As of early december, students are still receiving letters of the 15 year date. While they are aware of the date come and they are reluctant to actualize their Education Plan until they have the correct information on their certificate of eligibility. The office of Economic Opportunity about this discrepancy. The office offered are in process, the system does not currently allow the latter to go out without they do in a day. Enhanced training of first amount with eligible recipient that indeed there is no disseminating day, sending letters informing spouses with previously applied that there is no disseminating day a new certificate of eligibility until they find a permanent solution. Ive said before, success of the implementation is entirely dependent on changes to the i. T. System. We hope there will be appropriate funding to expedite the process. While mandatory training for school certified officials is included in a forever g. I. Bill, we are concerned about the schools being fully aware of the changes coming august 2018. Information beingushed out by e va. We hope there will be ordinati within the schools of the person talking to the student is where the changes. Tops biggest concern with changes implemented in august as they will be delayed payments for veterans and survivors enrolled in the fall 2018 disaster. Even with a few changes that went into effect this fall, there were issues of schools demanding payment for the students because the delayed va payments. Students receiving va payments were not allowed to attend classes, register for spring 2018 for use campus facilities because the payment was delayed. In some cases, students are put on payment plans they could not afford were forced to take out Student Loans with egregious origination fees in order to continue the education program. Tops would recommend students receiving va payments have the same protection as those who was he title for funding such as pell grants and federal Student Loans who are not