H.R. 6377

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6377 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6377

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the eligibility 
of siblings of certain veterans for educational assistance under the 
educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 3, 2025

Ms. Brownley introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the eligibility 
of siblings of certain veterans for educational assistance under the 
educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``This act may be cited as the ``Gold 
Star Siblings Educational Benefits Act''.

SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF SIBLINGS OF CERTAIN VETERANS FOR EDUCATIONAL 
ASSISTANCE UNDER DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM.

(a) Eligibility.--Paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of section 3501 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or sibling'' after 
``spouse'';
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``spouse or child'' 
and inserting ``spouse, child, or sibling'';
(3) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``or sibling'' after 
``spouse'' both places it appears; and
(4) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``spouse or child'' 
and inserting ``spouse, child, or sibling''.
(b) Sibling Defined.--Such subsection is further amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph:
``(13) The term `sibling' means a brother or sister, 
whether by blood, adoption, or through a recognized 
guardianship or family relationship.''.

SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY OF SIBLINGS OF CERTAIN VETERANS FOR EDUCATIONAL 
ASSISTANCE UNDER MARINE GUNNERY SERGEANT JOHN DAVID FRY 
SCHOLARSHIP.

(a) Eligibility.--Each of paragraphs (8), (9), and (10) of 
subsection (b) of section 3311 of title 38, United States Code, are 
amended by striking ``child or spouse'' and inserting ``child, spouse, 
or sibling''.
(b) Sibling Defined.--Paragraph (4) of subsection (f) of such 
section is amended to read as follows:
``(4) Definitions.--For purposes of paragraphs (8), (9), 
and (10) of subsection (b):
``(A) The term `child' includes a married 
individual or an individual who is above the age of 
twenty-three years.
``(B) The term `sibling' means a brother or sister, 
whether by blood, adoption, or through a recognized 
guardianship or family relationship.''.

SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY OF SIBLINGS OF CERTAIN VETERANS FOR EDUCATIONAL 
ASSISTANCE TRANSFERRED UNDER POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

(a) Eligibility.--Section 3319 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(2)--
(A) by striking ``has the meaning given the term 
`dependent' under subparagraphs (A), (I), and (D) of 
section 1072(2) of title 10.'' and inserting ``means an 
person who, with respect to an individual approved to 
transfer an entitlement to educational assistance under 
this section, is--''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraphs:
``(A) a dependent referred to in subparagraph (A), 
(D), or (I) of section 1072(2) of title 10; or
``(B) the sibling of the individual.'';
(2) in subsection (g)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or a sibling 
23 years of age or older'' after ``spouse''; and
(B) in paragraph (2),
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by inserting ``or a sibling under the age 
of 23'' after ``child''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or 
sibling'' after ``child'' both places it 
appears;
(3) in subsection (h)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by inserting ``or a sibling 23 
years of age or older'' after ``a 
spouse''; and
(II) by inserting ``or the 
sibling'' after ``the spouse''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by inserting ``or a sibling 
under the age of 23'' after ``a 
child''; and
(II) by inserting ``or the 
sibling'' after ``the child'';
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or 
a sibling 23 years of age or older'' after 
``spouse''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or 
a sibling under the age of 23'' after 
``child'';
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as 
paragraphs (7) and (8), respectively; and
(D) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following 
new paragraph (6):
``(6) Limitation on age of use by sibling transferees.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
subparagraphs (B) and (C), a sibling to whom 
entitlement is transferred under this section may use 
the benefits transferred until the later of the 
following dates:
``(i) The 15-year delimiting date specified 
in section 3321.
``(ii) The date on which the sibling 
attains the age of 26 years.
``(B) Primary caregivers of seriously injured 
members of the armed forces and veterans.--
``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
in the case of a sibling who, before attaining 
the age of 26 years, is prevented from pursuing 
a chosen program of education by reason of 
acting as the primary provider of personal care 
services for a veteran or member of the Armed 
Forces under section 1720G(a) of this title, 
the sibling may use the benefits beginning on 
the date specified in clause (iii) for a period 
whose length is specified in clause (iv).
``(ii) Inapplicability for revocation.--
Clause (i) shall not apply with respect to a 
period during which an individual acts as a 
primary provider of personal care services if 
the period concludes with the revocation of the 
individual's designation as such a primary 
provider under section 1720G(a)(7)(D) of this 
title.
``(iii) Date for commencement of use.--The 
date specified in this clause for the beginning 
of the use of benefits by a sibling under 
clause (i) is the later of--
``(I) the date on which the sibling 
ceases acting as the primary provider 
of personal care services for the 
veteran or member concerned as 
described in clause (i);
``(II) the date on which it is 
reasonably feasible, as determined 
under regulations prescribed by the 
Secretary, for the sibling to initiate 
or resume the use of benefits; or
``(III) the date on which the 
sibling attains the age of 26 years.
``(iv) Length of use.--The length of the 
period specified in this clause for the use of 
benefits by a sibling under clause (i) is the 
length equal to the length of the period that--
``(I) begins on the date on which 
the sibling begins acting as the 
primary provider of personal care 
services for the veteran or member 
concerned as described in clause (i); 
and
``(II) ends on the later of--
``(aa) the date on which 
the sibling ceases acting as 
the primary provider of 
personal care services for the 
veteran or member as described 
in clause (i); or
``(bb) the date on which it 
is reasonably feasible, as so 
determined, for the sibling to 
initiate or resume the use of 
benefits.''.
(4) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(m) Definition of Sibling.--In this section, the term `sibling' 
means a brother or sister, whether by blood, adoption, or through a 
recognized guardianship or family relationship.''.
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