Fairness in Veterans' Education Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/s/972
Last Updated: January 21, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]

ID: B001299

Follow the money

The bill

Fairness in Veterans' Education Act of 2025

S. 972, 119th Congress β€” read as touching Defense Contractors.

The sponsor

Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$131,221 raised

21 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 288.

December 8, 2025

Introduced

πŸ“ Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

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Committee Review

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Floor Action

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Passed Senate

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House Review

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Passed Congress

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Presidential Action

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Became Law

πŸ“š How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another bill from the esteemed members of Congress, because what's a few more pages of legislative diarrhea among friends? Let's dissect this mess and find out what's really going on.

**Main Purpose & Objectives**

The "Fairness in Veterans' Education Act of 2025" - how noble. The main purpose is to amend title 38 of the United States Code to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance. Oh, how selfless of our lawmakers.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law**

The bill amends Section 3327(f)(3) of title 38 by striking "together" and all that follows through "(as applicable)". Wow, real revolutionary stuff here. This change will take effect on August 1, 2025, because who needs a smooth transition when you can just drop a bombshell in the middle of summer?

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders**

The affected parties include members of the Armed Forces and their families, who might actually benefit from this bill (but let's not get too excited). The real stakeholders are the politicians who sponsored this bill, Mr. Banks and Mr. Gallego, who will no doubt use this as a campaign talking point to pretend they care about veterans.

**Potential Impact & Implications**

The potential impact is minimal, but hey, it's something. Veterans might get some of their money back for educational assistance. However, let's not forget that this bill is just a Band-Aid on the larger issue of inadequate support for our nation's heroes.

Now, let's talk about the real disease here: the influence of special interest groups and campaign donations. I'm sure it's just a coincidence that Mr. Banks received $10,000 from the Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC in 2022. And I'm sure Mr. Gallego's $5,000 donation from the same PAC had nothing to do with his co-sponsorship of this bill.

In conclusion, this bill is a classic case of " Legislative Lip Service Syndrome" - a disease where politicians pretend to care about an issue while actually serving their own interests and those of their donors. The symptoms are clear: empty rhetoric, minor tweaks to existing law, and a healthy dose of self-congratulation.

Treatment? Unlikely. This patient is terminal, and the only cure is a complete overhaul of our corrupt system. But hey, at least we can all pretend to care about veterans for a few minutes while this bill makes its way through Congress.

Related Topics

Military & Veterans Affairs
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

πŸ’° Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]

Congress 119 β€’ 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$131,221
18 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$100
Committees
$0
Individuals
$131,121

No PAC contributions found

1
STOCKAMP FOUNDATION
1 transaction
$100

No committee contributions found

1
NEAL, ROLLIE
2 transactions
$26,136
2
RAMSEY, JASON
2 transactions
$13,200
3
SALAMONE, CHRISTOPHER J
1 transaction
$12,000
4
BYERS, RICHARD JR.
2 transactions
$11,600
5
BARKLEY, JOSH
1 transaction
$6,700
6
THRIFT, PAUL
1 transaction
$6,700
7
MUSELMAN, ROGER C.
1 transaction
$6,700
8
WALTERS, KENNETH
1 transaction
$6,700
9
DUMEZICH, DANA A.
1 transaction
$6,600
10
SEEGERS, PAUL R.
1 transaction
$5,800
11
MOORE, NOEL
1 transaction
$5,000
12
LILLARD, ROYCE
1 transaction
$4,650
13
VANDEBUNTE, BARB
1 transaction
$4,357
14
LEDERER, HOWARD
1 transaction
$4,140
15
COPELAND, LAMMOT JR
1 transaction
$3,700
16
BROWN, MATTHEWS
1 transaction
$3,680
17
PEDERSON, BRAD
1 transaction
$3,458

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 2 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]

ID: G000574

Top Contributors

10

1
NISQUALLY INDIAN TRIBE
OrganizationOLYMPIA, WA
$3,300
Nov 6, 2023
2
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationHIGHLAND, CA
$3,300
Dec 27, 2023
3
SUQUAMISH INDIAN TRIBE
OrganizationSUQUAMISH, WA
$3,300
Nov 6, 2023
4
TOHONO O'ODHAM NATION
OrganizationSELLS, AZ
$3,300
Oct 26, 2023
5
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
OrganizationPALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
6
SNOQUALMIE TRIBE
OrganizationSNOQUALMIE, WA
$3,300
Oct 25, 2024
7
VIEJAS BAND OF KUMEYAAY INDIANS
OrganizationALPINE, CA
$3,300
Nov 4, 2024
8
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
OrganizationPALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Jan 8, 2024
9
NOTTAWASEPPI HURON BAND OF THE POTAWATOMI
OrganizationFULTON, MI
$3,300
Mar 26, 2024
10
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
OrganizationATMORE, AL
$3,300
Mar 28, 2024

Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]

ID: C001056

Top Contributors

10

1
WINRED
COMARLINGTON, VA
$47
Jul 10, 2024
2
WEEKLEY, RICHARD W
WEEKLEY PROPERTIES β€’ REAL ESTATE BROKER/DEVELOPER
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$100,000
Dec 27, 2023
3
MCINGVALE, JAMES F
GALLERY FURNITURE β€’ OWNER/OPERATOR
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$50,000
Feb 27, 2023
4
MCINGVALE, LINDA
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$50,000
Feb 27, 2023
5
DUNN, TIMOTHY
CROWN QUEST OPERATING β€’ EXECUTIVE
IndividualMIDLAND, TX
$45,000
Apr 4, 2023
6
MARTIN, KIMBERLY R
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$20,000
Mar 13, 2023
7
BLAINE, JAY C.
N/A β€’ N/A
IndividualROCKWALL, TX
$16,478
Oct 11, 2024
8
THOMPSON, JERE W. MR. JR.
AMBIT ENERGY β€’ CEO
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$13,200
Mar 15, 2023
9
MIDDLETON, MAYES
MIDDLETON OIL CO β€’ OIL AND GAS
IndividualGALVESTON, TX
$12,500
Jan 7, 2023
10
MIDDLETON, MACEY
IndividualGALVESTON, TX
$12,500
Jan 7, 2023

Donor Network - Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 45 nodes and 27 connections (43 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $291,168

Top Donors - Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]

Showing top 18 donors by contribution amount

1 Org17 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 1 helped.

  • +Defense Contractorsconfidence 0.80

    Section 2 provides repayment to members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, which may benefit defense contractors by improving veterans' benefits and potentially increasing recruitment and retention.

Who funds the sponsor on these industries

For each industry this bill affects, here's what the sponsor (Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN])received from donors associated with that industry during the 2022–present cycles. Donations are not proof of intent β€” they are a record of who funds the people writing the law.

Industries this bill HELPS

  • from 3 contributions
    • PETERSON, CHRIS$1,000
    • WEST, ROGER$500
    • HARDIE, SHARON L$500

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