Norton Introduces Bill to Extend Educational Benefits to Dependent Parents of Servicemembers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill to expand education benefits to dependent parents of servicemembers and veterans. Under the legislation, a dependent parent could qualify for education assistance if their child dies from a service-connected disability or has a total and permanent service-connected disability. Currently only spouses and children of these servicemembers are eligible.

"Parents of servicemembers make enormous sacrifices to support their children's service, often stepping in to care for their grandchildren while their sons and daughters are deployed overseas," Norton said. "When a servicemember is killed or becomes permanently disabled in service to our country, we should not leave those parents behind. This bill recognizes the sacrifices they have made by helping them pursue the education and training they may have put on hold and giving them a better opportunity to enter or reenter the workforce."

This legislation has been endorsed by Disabled American Veterans.

The idea for the bill came from a Norton constituent. Norton's introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of a Bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend eligibility for survivors' and dependents' educational assistance to the dependent parent of a person who dies of a service-

connected disability or has a total and permanent service-connected disability, and for other purposes.

August 27, 2026

Today, I introduce a bill to expand eligibility for the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program, commonly referred to as Chapter 35 benefits, to dependent parents of servicemembers.

The idea for this bill came from one of my constituents. Currently, the spouses and children of servicemembers who die or become disabled are eligible for Chapter 35 benefits. However, dependent parents of servicemembers are not eligible.

Parents of servicemembers often fill the role of caregiver for the children of servicemembers while they are overseas. Such time commitments make it challenging for these parents to pursue post-secondary education, making it difficult for them to enter the workforce if their child is killed or becomes disabled in service of their country.

This bill would expand the definition of "eligible person" in Chapter 35 to include dependent parents of servicemembers. Granting dependent parents of servicemembers access to Chapter 35 benefits will allow them to gain the necessary skills to enter the workforce and support themselves and other surviving family members.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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