Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity Act of 2025
Summary
The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity Act of 2025 proposes amendments to title 38 of the United States Code, specifically targeting the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship. The bill aims to modify the requirements for the scholarship. These modifications include changes to eligibility criteria and the order in which benefits can be utilized.
Expected Effects
The act would change the requirements for the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship. This could affect the number of veterans eligible for the scholarship and the timing of when they can use the benefits. The changes prioritize those who have used the most educational assistance and are pursuing STEM programs.
Potential Benefits
- Prioritizes veterans who have already utilized a significant portion of their educational benefits, potentially aiding those nearing the end of their eligibility.
- Focuses on STEM fields, which are often in high demand and can lead to better job opportunities.
- Could encourage more veterans to pursue STEM degrees, addressing workforce needs in these sectors.
- Streamlines the scholarship requirements by removing outdated paragraphs and redesignating others.
- Ensures that individuals use their existing educational assistance before accessing the STEM scholarship benefits.
Potential Disadvantages
- Modifying eligibility criteria could inadvertently exclude some veterans who would have previously qualified.
- Reducing the required credit hours for certain eligibility criteria (60 to 45 and 90 to 67.5) might lower the academic standards for scholarship recipients.
- Redesignating subparagraphs could cause confusion during the application process until the changes are fully understood.
- The requirement to exhaust all other educational assistance before using the STEM scholarship might delay access to specialized STEM education for some veterans.
- Potential administrative burden in implementing and managing the modified scholarship requirements.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble). It aims to promote education and opportunities for veterans, which can be seen as contributing to the overall well-being of the citizenry. As the bill amends existing legislation related to veteran affairs, it falls under Congress's power to provide for the common defense and general welfare, as outlined in Article I, Section 8.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).