119-HR-982 Journalist Public Summary

Public Summary

Headline Summary: H.R. 982, the “Warriors to Workforce Act,” would boost the GI Bill housing stipend for veterans in full‑time apprenticeships or on‑the‑job training from 80% to 90% during the second six months of their first year, to improve retention. (congress.gov)

What It Does: Today, vets using Post‑9/11 GI Bill benefits for an approved apprenticeship/OJT receive 100% of the local E‑5‑with‑dependents housing rate for months 1–6, then 80% for months 7–12. The bill changes that 80% to 90%, keeping the first half of the year at 100%. It also clarifies that the change applies to those using GI Bill benefits under Chapter 33. (uscode.house.gov)

Who’s For It:

• Sponsor: Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R‑WI). (congress.gov)
• Bipartisan support: Rep. Laura Gillen (D‑NY) added as a cosponsor on January 6, 2026. (congress.gov)
• Veterans groups backing the bill include the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Student Veterans of America (SVA), and others. (wisbusiness.com)
• At the January 21, 2026 hearing, a Department of Labor official expressed support for the measure’s aims. (stripes.com)

Who’s Against It:

• No formal, organized opposition is listed in official bill materials as of January 22, 2026; a Congressional Budget Office estimate has not yet been posted. (congress.gov)
• Possible concerns to watch: higher GI Bill costs and whether increased stipends effectively reduce dropout rates in apprenticeships. (These points are commonly raised in debates on benefit increases; specific costings are pending.)

What’s Next: The bill was referred to the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity on March 7, 2025, and the subcommittee held a legislative hearing on January 21, 2026. Next steps would typically be a subcommittee markup, then full committee consideration before any floor vote. (congress.gov)