Government Affairs - Student Veterans of America®

Government Affairs - Student Veterans of America®
Government Affairs
The mission of SVA’s Government Affairs Department is to shape policy proposals and regulations on behalf of veterans in pursuit of career advancement through higher education.
Supporting Student Veterans
Student Veterans of America® (SVA) works closely with Congress and the federal government to promote forward-looking policies that will help veterans get the education they need to thrive in the modern workforce. Our robust work focuses on a myriad of issues, and we prepare analyses of a wide variety of proposals concerning matters that impact veterans in higher education. As subject matter experts on higher education and veterans policy, Congress and senior government officials frequently call on our team to deliver testimony regarding topics facing student veterans. Our primary focus is the success of student veterans, and we achieve a high level of influence through consistent liaison with Congress, relevant organizations and associations, industry, and others concerned with proposed and pending policies.
Advising Decision-Makers
The majority of our team maintains a focus on issues of strategic-level importance. Typically, the team spends its time working on national policy within the executive and legislative branches. We have strong ties with relevant committees in the House and Senate, with a conscious emphasis on keeping a bipartisan agenda. Our team works at every level within the Executive Branch, from the on-the-ground program manager, up through cabinet-level decision-makers. Though our work primarily has a national focus, we often track issues that arise at the state and campus level as well. We encourage student veterans to reach out to us for support regarding any policy issues for which we can provide support.
Maintaining Strategic Influence
Among the many topics we focus on, our team has testified on the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), student debt, and Veteran Success on Campus program (VSOC); we have advised the administration on the GI Bill Comparison Tool, intergovernmental policy such as the agreement with the Federal Trade Commission, and numerous proposals affecting the Post-9/11 GI Bill. We are constantly informing and advocating for new legislation that may positively impact a student veterans’ quality of life while keeping our community informed about changes in laws and regulations. Our work includes advocating on behalf of policy and legislative improvements that enhance topics such as:
Investment & Impact of the GI Bill
STEM Education Pathways
In-State Tuition, Student Debt, Accessibility, and Priority Enrollment for Student Veterans
Compliance, Credits, and Credentialing
Recent Congressional Testimony
Policy Priorities 2025 Booklet
Policy Priorities 2025 Brochure
Policy Priority Talking Points
Legislative Priorities 2025 (March 4, 2025)
Policy Priorities 2024
Legislative Priorities 2024 (March 6, 2024)
Legislative Priorities Testimony – Joint House and Senate VSO Hearing 2024
Jared Lyon Presents SVA Legislative Priorities Testimony – Joint House and Senate VSO Hearing 2023
Legislative Presentation of The American Legion & Multi VSOs: PVA, SVA, IAVA, NASDVA, BVEC, VVA, FRA, NCAI, NGAUS
Statement of Student Veterans of America Before the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs U.S. House of Representatives
Policy Priorities 2023
Policy Priorities 2022
Pending Legislation (March 16, 2022)
Testimony to a Joint Session of Congress (March 8, 2022)
Success After Service: Improving Veterans’ Employment, Education, and Home Loan Opportunities (October 27, 2021)
Pending Legislation (September 21, 2021)
Pending Legislation (April 14, 2021)
Legislative Priorities of 2021 (March 3, 2021)
Video
Identifying Congressional and Administration Priorities for the Next Congress (December 8, 2020)
Moving Beyond Patchwork Systems: The Future of Education Services IT (September 16, 2020)
Pending Legislation (March 10, 2020)
Legislative Priorities of 2020 (March 3, 2020)
Video
Pending Legislation (February 6, 2020)
Further Examining GI Bill Implementation Effort (November 19, 2019)
Pending Legislation (July 19, 2020)
Economic Wellbeing of Women Veterans (July 10, 2019)
Pending Legislation (May 22, 2019)
FY2020 President’s Budget (April 30, 2019)
Pending Legislation (April 9, 2019)
Legislative Priorities (March 7, 2019)
Download 2025 Policy Priorities
Policy Suggestion Portal
Do you have a policy concern or idea to share with the Government Affairs team? Let us know here!
Campus Advocacy
Understand how you can advocate for positive change on your campus.
VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship
This fellowship provides 10 exemplary VFW members who are student veterans the opportunity to make their voices heard on Capitol Hill and in their community.
Advocacy News
Blog
A Message from the SVA Board Chair: Welcoming Cory Boatwright as President and CEO
Press
Student Veterans of America Names Cory Boatwright President and CEO
Press
SVA Presents the Sonny Montgomery Student Veteran Champion and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Distinguished Public Service Awards
Advocacy, Blog
Understanding the Perkins Decision: What Veterans Should Know About GI Bill Eligibility
Blog, Partners
From Service to Tech: Google IT Support Certificate for Student Veterans
Events, Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America Announces 2025 Partners in Excellence Award Recipients at NatCon
Blog, Events
wear blue Honors the Fallen at SVA's 18th Annual NatCon
Events, Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America Celebrates Leadership, Community, and Impact at 18th Annual NatCon
Press
Student Veterans of America Announces 2025 Honors Awards Finalists
Blog
Finding Connection and Purpose During the Holiday Season
Blog
Honoring Gratitude, Service, and Community This Thanksgiving Season
Blog, Partners
Launch Your STEM Career: Google Data Analytics Certificate Through SVA
Blog, Partners
Secure Your Future: Cybersecurity Certificate for Student Veterans
Blog, Partners
Lead with Confidence: Build Your Project Management Skills with Google
Press
SVA Launches New Professional Development Series and Opens Access to Google Career Certificates
Press
Student Veterans of America Opens Nominations for 2025 Honors Awards
Blog
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: Supporting Mental Health in the Student Veteran Community
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America and John Edelman Announce 2025 Scholarship Recipients
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America and the Northrop Grumman Foundation Announce the 2025 STEM Scholarship Winners
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America Applications Open for 2025–2026 VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America Receives $4 Million from Google.org to Expand Career Training and Workforce Readiness for Student Veterans
Events
Student Veterans of America Announces 2025 Regional Summits Nationwide to Empower Campus Leaders
Blog, Events
Honoring the Fallen: Student Veterans Attend the 157th Memorial Day Observance at Arlington
Events, Press
SVA Honors Memorial Day: Join National Ceremonies to Commemorate Our Fallen Heroes
Blog
From Hopeful to Ready: Joshua Osmin’s First NatCon Experience
Blog
Want Affordable, High-Quality Childcare? Look to the Military
Research
The Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership (VITAL) Program: A VITAL case for expanded Availability
Blog
Global Dialogue on Student Veteran Support: MIT Hosts Kyiv School of Economics Delegation
Blog
The Mission Moves Forward Through Partnership
Blog, Research
2024 SVA Census Update
Press
SVA Announces Student Veteran Advisory Council
Blog
Empowering Service and Volunteerism through Student Veterans of America
Blog
Rudisill v. McDonough Update Part 2
Events, Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America Honors Organizations in the Veteran Community at NatCon 2025
Events, Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America Hosts 17th Annual NatCon
Press
Student Veterans of America Honors 2024 President’s Volunteer Service Award Recipients for Commitment to Community Impact
Blog, Events
Honoring the Fallen Through Movement and Memory: The 2025 wear blue: run to remember at NatCon
Press
Student Veterans of America Announces 2024 Honors Awards Recipients
Events, Press
Watch the 2025 State of Student Veterans of America
Press
SVA Announces 2024 Honors Awards Finalists
Blog
Honoring the Service of Student Veterans During Veterans Month
Blog
Student Veteran Robert Pryor’s Journey as a Dominion Energy Intern
Blog
Student Veterans of America's 2024 Leadership Institute
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars Announce 2024–2025 Legislative Fellows
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America Receives Greater Texas Foundation Grant
Blog
Student Veterans of America Staff Seize the Summer
Blog, Press
Student Veterans of America and RTX Announce 2024 RTX Patriot Scholarship Recipients
Blog, Press
Student Veterans of America and RTX Announce 2024 RTX SPY-6 Scholarship Recipients
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America and Google Announce 2024 Scholarship Recipients
Student Veterans of America Summer 2024 Newsletter
Partners, Press
Veteran and Military Family Groups Condemn Political Violence in Joint Statement
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America Launches Advising Center
Events, Press
Student Veterans of America's Memorial Day Acts of Service
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America and John Edelman Announce 2024 Scholarship Recipients
Blog
Student Veterans Win Big Across University Campuses
Press
Jared Lyon Named to the George W. Bush Institute Advisory Council
Blog
FourBlock Veteran Career Readiness Program
Student Veterans of America Spring 2024 Newsletter
Advocacy
Supreme Court ruling in Rudisill v. McDonough
Blog
Library of Congress Hosts a Vets Town Hall
Blog
Oregon Tech Visits Washington, D.C.
Blog
Chapman University visits Washington, D.C.
Student Veterans of America Witner 2024 Newsletter
Advocacy, Press
SVA Presents the Sonny Montgomery Student Veteran Champion and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Distinguished Public Service Awards
Advocacy, Blog
Washington Week 2024
Advocacy, Press
Rep. Levin, Ranking Member Takano Introduce Bipartisan Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act
Blog
U.S Department of Veterans Affairs is Transitioning to Single Payment Bank Accounts
Blog
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Hosts Special Screening of Masters of the Air
Blog
SVA and WWP Living Works START course
Press
SVA Announces New Outreach Coordinators
Blog
GWVets Visit the Department of State
Blog
How does a Government Shutdown Impact VA Education Benefits?
Press
Introducing Student Veterans of America’s National Academic Advising Center
Press
Student Veterans of America Announces 2023 Honors Awards Recipients
Blog
MLK Day of Service 2024
Events, Press
Watch the 2024 State of Student Veterans of America
Press
SVA Announces 2023 Honors Awards Finalists
Blog, Events
Navigating Veterans Benefits: Your Guide to the Veterans Claims Clinic at NatCon 2024
Blog, Events
NatCon 2024: Service Project, safeTalk Training, Morning Workouts, & more!
Student Veterans of America Fall 2023 Newsletter
Blog
Join the Mission: Empower Student Veterans on GivingTuesday
Blog
Student Veterans of America Celebrates Veterans Month
Blog
SVA Chapter Activities During Veterans Month
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America is Recipient of $1 million Donation from The Walt Disney Company
Events, Partners
Student Veterans of America 2023 Leadership Institute Professional Development Event
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars Announce 2023–2024 Legislative Fellows
Research
Student Veterans of America Annual Census Survey 2023
Blog
What does a Government Shutdown Mean for VA Education Benefits?
Advocacy, Blog
What to Know as Federal Student Loan Repayments Resume this Fall
Events, Partners
Student Veterans of America and Boeing Host 2023 Regional Summit Conference
Blog
Want to Use VA Education Benefits Overseas? Plan First. Then Enroll.
Student Veterans of America Summer 2023 Newsletter
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America and Comcast NBCUniversal Announce 2023 Scholarship Recipients
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America and John Edelman Announce 2023 Scholarship Recipients
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America and Raytheon Technologies Announce 2023 Scholarship Recipients
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America and Google Announce 2023 Scholarship Recipients
Advocacy
SVA Applauds Introduction of Legislation to Expand Readmission Protections for students in the National Guard and Reserve
Events
Student Veterans of America Commemorates Memorial Day with Acts of Service
Advocacy
Student Veterans of America Celebrates Introduction of VA Work-Study Legislation
Press
Student Veterans of America Update on Post 9/11 GI Bill MHA Delayed Payment for March 2023
Advocacy
Student Veterans of America testifies before the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans'
Partners
Student Veterans of America Provides FourBlock Veteran Career Readiness Program Marketing Toolkit
Student Veterans of America Spring 2023 Newsletter
Advocacy
Student Veterans of America Testifies Before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
Advocacy
Tester, Boozman Bipartisan Bill Requires VA to Take a More Comprehensive Look at Veteran Suicide
Partners
Student Veterans of America Announces Formal Partnership with FourBlock
Advocacy
Student Veterans of America Celebrates Major End-of-Year Policy Victories
Events, Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America 2023 NatCon Sponsor and Partner Recognition
Events, Press
Watch the 2023 State of Student Veterans of America
Student Veterans of America Winter 2022 Newsletter
Advocacy
VA Delays New Enrollment Manager System to Reduce Impact on Student Veterans
Student Veterans of America Fall 2022 Newsletter
Advocacy
Federal Government Announces New Actions on Student Loan Debt
Advocacy
Student Veterans of America PACT Act Status Update
Advocacy
Student Veterans of America Presents Testimony on Pending Legislation Before the HVAC EO
Press
Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Student Veterans of America Announce 2022 Patriot Scholarship Recipients
Advocacy
ED to Accept DD-214s in Certifying Military Service for Public Student Loan Forgiveness
Press
Student Veterans of America Receives $8 Million Grant from MacKenzie Scott
Press
Student Veterans of America Names Three Board Members, Including Current Student and Recent Graduate
Events
Watch the 2022 State of Student Veterans of America
Events, Press
Student Veterans of America 2022 NatCon Honors Award Recipients
Events, Press
Student Veterans of America Awards Inaugural Senator Bob Dole Continued Service Award to Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation
Events, Press
Media Advisory: Student Veterans of America (SVA) 2022 National Conference
Advocacy
COVID-19 Protections Extended and Rounding Out Restored
Events
Student Veterans of America Honors: Meet our Finalists
Advocacy
COVID-19 Benefit Protections and Rounding Out: Updates for Student Veterans
Press
Student Veterans of America NatCon 2022: Registration is Open!
Advocacy
What the New PSLF Changes Mean for Service Members and Veterans
Press
Student Veterans of America Joins MTV Entertainment’s Mental Health Youth Action Forum
Press
Rutgers CMSI and Student Veterans of America Partner to Support Student Veterans at MSIs
Partners
Student Veterans of America Alumni Participates in Foreign Affairs Information Technology (FAIT) Fellowship
Press
Student Veterans of America Joins Welcome.US
Partners
Comcast NBCUniversal and Student Veterans of America Announce 2021 Scholarship Recipients
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America Applications Open for 2022 VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship
Blog
Current Events in Afghanistan: What can Chapter Leaders do to Help?
Blog
Student Veterans of America Message to Our Community in Response to Current Events in Afghanistan
Advocacy
VHA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Listening Sessions for Veterans
Advocacy
Appropriations Brief: Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Education
Advocacy
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Press
Student Veterans of America Announces 2021 Google Scholarship Recipients
Blog
Meet the Student Veterans of America Programs & Services Team
Advocacy
Court: Veterans with Multiple Periods of Service Entitled to Additional GI Bill Benefits
Events
Stay Engaged this Summer with Student Veterans of America Chapter Events
Advocacy
Refresh of Higher Education Regulations Announced
Press
Student Veterans of America Names Two New Board Members
Advocacy
What Revitalizing America’s Infrastructure Could Mean for Student Veterans
Press
Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Student Veterans of America Announce 2021 SPY-6 Scholarship Recipients
Advocacy, Press
House Approves Several Student Veterans of America Policy Priorities
Blog, Partners
Veteran Wellness Alliance Offers Trusted Care Through Check-In
Press
Student Veterans of America Joins First National Mental Health Action Day
Events, Press
Student Veterans of America Joins Vietnam War Commemorative Partners
Advocacy, Blog
Top Ten Takeaways: The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
Events
Watch the 2021 State of Student Veterans of America
Events, Press
2021 Student Veterans of America Honors Award Recipients
Blog, Events
The 2021 Student Veterans of America Honors Gala: Meet our Finalists
Blog
COVID-19 FAQs
Advocacy, Blog
What the CARES Act Means for Student Veterans, Service Members, and their Families
Events, Press
Join Student Veterans of America for the National Day of Service
Advocacy, Blog
Final Bills of the 116th Congress
Advocacy, Blog
Major Veteran Legislation Clears Congress
Press
Student Veterans of America Statement on VA Office of Inspector General Report
Events, Press
Student Veterans of America NatCon Returns: February 19-20
Press
GVSU Announces Veteran Promise
Advocacy, Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America Debuts Public Service Announcement
Events, Press
SVA President Jared Lyon Delivers Veterans Day Remarks
Blog, Events
How to Stream Veterans Day Events
Advocacy
#VOTE Like a Veteran
Press
Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Student Veterans of America Announce 2020 Patriot Scholarship Recipients
Blog, Events
Jared Lyon Named 2020 NYC Veterans Day Grand Marshal
Advocacy, Blog
Volunteer to Power The Polls
Advocacy, Blog
Pandemic Assistance for Student Veterans Act Introduced
Blog, Events
Veterans Day on Your Campus: Virtual Event Ideas
Blog, Events
Student Veterans of America Leadership Institute Applications Open
Advocacy, Blog
Moving Beyond Patchwork Systems: The Future of Education Services IT
Blog, Events
Student Veterans of America Regional Summit Starts on September 26th
Advocacy, Blog
Legislative Updates: Fall 2020
Advocacy, Blog
Survey Finds 96% of Student Veterans Will Vote
Blog, Partners
Apply for the Raytheon Patriot Scholarship
Blog, Partners
Resources for Student Veterans During COVID-19
Blog, Events
Watch Home with the Brave: A Graduation Salute
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America and VFW Announce 2018 Class of Legislative Fellows
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America and VFW Announce 2017 Class of Legislative Fellows
Partners, Press
Student Veterans of America and VFW Announce 2016 Class of Legislative Fellows
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