S2S on the Hill — Roundtable Discussion

S2S Chief Programs Officer, Annie Behari, at Committee on Veterans’ Affairs roundtable discussion

Earlier this week, I had the privilege of representing Service to School at a roundtable discussion on Capitol Hill. The conversation was hosted by Veterans Education Success, a bipartisan organization that champions access to career and educational programs for veterans and their families.

The topic focused on ways that the GI Bill, and other veterans education programs, can be better managed to help students achieve their goals and reduce frustration, predatory practices, and other common obstacles. There were representatives from the Department of Education, Veterans Affairs, senior advisors, staffers, and a few veteran service organizations like S2S. It was, at times, a complex conversation given the number of stakeholders involved in a program as sprawling as the GI Bill.

At S2S, we see the problems firsthand when we talk to our applicants, many of whom have wasted valuable time and money. After so many years “in the weeds,” it was interesting to see, at a high level, how an organization like ours can advocate for policies that solve problems that we see everyday.

It was a reminder that we can, and we should always, do more to make our collective voice heard.