NBAA Urges Congress to Preserve Flight-Training Benefits for Veterans

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is urging congressional lawmakers to reject a bill (H.R. 476) that would limit college flight-training benefits for military veterans.

In a joint letter dated May 19, NBAA and six other aviation associations called on leaders of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee to oppose the bill, which the panel is expected to consider as early as May 21.

The proposed legislation would cap U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) funding for four-year public colleges at $20,980 per year. Since tuition and flight-training fees often exceed that amount, many veterans would no longer be able to afford to obtain an aeronautical college degree with a commercial pilot’s license.

H.R. 476 would “cause immediate and alarming changes” to the education benefits that Congress promised to veterans, the letter says. While controlling costs is warranted, the cap would “harm veterans and limit their employment opportunities in the aviation industry,” and would exacerbate the nation’s commercial pilot shortage.

The three-page letter is signed by Ed Bolen, NBAA president and CEO, and his counterparts at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), Helicopter Association International (HAI), National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO).

The bill has created a “considerable amount of anxiety among veterans,” the letter says. “All of our organizations have received calls and letters from veterans across the nation, and it is worth noting that more than 11,000 communications on the issue have reportedly been directed to Congress in the past 60 days.”

The letter is addressed to Reps. Jeff Miller (R-1-FL) and Corrine Brown (D-5-FL), the chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The letter also was sent to the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, House and Senate Aviation subcommittees and the co-chairs of the House and Senate General Aviation caucuses.