# 117-hr-5603: Protections for Student Veterans Act

117-hr-5603, Protections for Student Veterans Act, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] (D-IL); status Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5603
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-5603
- Congress: 117
- Title: Protections for Student Veterans Act
- Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Introduced: 2021-10-15
- Sponsor: Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] (D-IL)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Protections for Student Veterans Act This bill authorizes service members who are utilizing Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance benefits to withdraw or take a leave of absence after they receive orders for active service, inactive-duty training, or state active duty. Institutions of higher education are prohibited from taking adverse actions against such service members for withdrawing or taking a leave of absence, including assigning a failing grade, reducing the member's grade point average, characterizing any absence as unexcused, or assessing financial penalties. The bill requires institutions of higher education to refund all tuition and fees (including for housing) for the academic term for which the service member withdraws. In situations where the service member takes a leave of absence, the institution of higher education must assign a grade of incomplete for the applicable term and permit the member to complete the academic term after the period of service.

## Related bills

- 117-hr-4693: Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021
- 117-hr-1667: Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act
- 117-hr-7791: Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022
- 117-hr-6961: Dignity for MST Survivors Act
- 117-hr-263: Big Cat Public Safety Act
- 117-hr-6943: Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022

## Sources
- [117-hr-5603 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5603)

## Related
- [117-hr-4693: Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-4693)
- [117-hr-1667: Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1667)
- [117-hr-7791: Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-7791)
- [117-hr-6961: Dignity for MST Survivors Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-6961)
- [117-hr-263: Big Cat Public Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-263)
- [117-hr-6943: Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-6943)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5603 (as of 2025-11-18).