Sgt. Isaac Woodard, Jr. and Sgt. Joseph H. Maddox GI Bill Restoration Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
In Committee
Summary
Restores housing loan guarantees and education benefits to Black World War II veterans who were denied GI Bill benefits because of race, and to their surviving spouses and direct descendants. It also creates a Blue Ribbon Panel to study broader inequities in VA benefits.
Show full summary
- Black World War II veterans who certify they were denied a specific GI Bill benefit because of race would be newly eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs housing loan guarantees. They would have a five-year window to apply.
- Surviving spouses, children, grandchildren, and other direct descendants who certify the denial would be eligible for housing loans and could apply for educational assistance during the same five-year window.
- The VA Secretary would have 90 days to issue implementing regulations and, within one year after that deadline, report to Congress and the Government Accountability Office on how many people received benefits and the total value administered.
- A Blue Ribbon Panel on Benefits and Assistance for Female and Minority Veterans would be appointed to study disparities in VA benefits and deliver recommendations to the President and Congress within one year.
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
VA home loans for Black WWII families
If enacted, some Black World War II veterans and their families would qualify for VA home loans. The veteran would need to certify a specific 1944 GI Bill benefit was denied because of race. Surviving spouses, children, grandchildren, and other direct descendants could qualify if they are living on the enactment date. You would need to apply within five years after enactment. VA would have 90 days to issue rules, and a GAO report would follow one year after that deadline.
GI Bill help for Black WWII descendants
If enacted, surviving spouses and direct descendants of Black World War II veterans could get GI Bill education help. You would need to certify the veteran was denied a specific 1944 GI Bill benefit because of race. You must be living on the enactment date and apply within five years after enactment. VA would issue rules within 90 days, and GAO would report results one year after that deadline.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Cosponsors
Clyburn
SC • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
McGovern
MA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
NV • D
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/10/2025
Mfume
MD • D
Sponsored 5/8/2025
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 7/17/2025
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/19/2025
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 8/19/2025
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 9/9/2025
McBath
GA • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov