Military Family GI Bill Promise Act

House Bill

H.R. 4540

119th Congress

Military Family GI Bill Promise Act

In Committee

Introduced:Dec 19, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Eugene Vindman

D - VA

Cosponsors

2

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Summary

This bill makes it easier for service members to transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to spouses and children. Currently, members must be actively serving to transfer benefits. This bill allows transfers after separation from service, and adds a new eligibility pathway for those with 10 years of service (6+ in Armed Forces) even without a 4-year commitment.

Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill makes it easier for service members to transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to spouses and children. Currently, members must be actively serving to transfer benefits. This bill allows transfers after separation from service, and adds a new eligibility pathway for those with 10 years of service (6+ in Armed Forces) even without a 4-year commitment.

Last updated: 12/26/2025

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Allows GI Bill transfer to dependents even after service member has separated from military
Removes requirement to be "serving" at time of transfer execution
Adds new eligibility: 10 years of service (at least 6 in Armed Forces) without additional commitment
Preserves existing pathway: 6 years service with 4-year commitment
Addresses "broken promise" where service members expected to transfer benefits but couldn't after leaving

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Military families would gain flexibility in education planning. Veterans who separated before transferring benefits could finally give their earned education benefits to children or spouses. Military spouses who supported service members' careers gain better access to education support. Children of veterans could attend college using benefits their parents earned but couldn't transfer under current rules. This addresses a common frustration where the GI Bill "promise" felt broken by restrictive transfer rules.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

4540, 119th Congress (2025). "Military Family GI Bill Promise Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-hr-4540