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H.R. 1725: Sgt. Isaac Woodard, Jr. and Sgt. Joseph H. Maddox GI Bill Restoration Act of 2025

The bill, known as the Sgt. Isaac Woodard, Jr. and Sgt. Joseph H. Maddox GI Bill Restoration Act of 2025, proposes changes to existing legislation to provide certain benefits to Black veterans of World War II and their direct descendants, acknowledging past injustices in the administration of the GI Bill.

Key Provisions of the Bill

1. Inclusion of Black Veterans

The bill aims to amend the existing definition of “veteran” in the context of housing loans to specifically include:

Black individuals who served on active duty during World War II and were denied benefits due to their race.
Surviving spouses, children, grandchildren, or other direct descendants of such veterans, provided they can certify that the veteran was denied benefits on the basis of race.

2. Housing Loans

The bill proposes:

Eligibility for housing loans guaranteed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for qualifying Black veterans and their descendants.
A five-year window, starting from the enactment of the bill, during which eligible individuals can apply for these housing loans.
Implementation of these provisions within 90 days of the bill's enactment.
Regulations to be established by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to facilitate these amendments.
A report from the Comptroller General of the United States to Congress on the number of individuals who received housing loan benefits and the total value of such benefits, due within one year after the implementation deadline.

3. Educational Assistance

The bill also includes provisions for:

Educational assistance for surviving spouses and direct descendants of qualifying Black veterans.
Eligibility for this educational assistance during the same five-year application period established for housing loans.
A similar timeline for implementation and regulation establishment as outlined for housing loans.
A report detailing the assistance provided, similar to the housing loan provisions, to be submitted within one year after the implementation deadline.

4. Blue Ribbon Panel

The bill calls for the establishment of a Blue Ribbon panel within 30 days of enactment. This panel will focus on:

Assessing inequities in the distribution of benefits and assistance for female and minority veterans.
Making recommendations for additional supports for these groups.
Providing a report with findings and recommendations to Congress and the President within one year.

Concluding Notes

In summary, the bill aims to rectify historical discrimination against Black veterans of World War II by ensuring they and their descendants have access to housing loans and educational benefits, while also addressing broader inequities faced by female and minority veterans.

Relevant Companies

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This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.

Actions

3 actions

Date	Action
Mar. 27, 2025	Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Feb. 27, 2025	Introduced in House
Feb. 27, 2025	Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

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