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Banks, Hirono Introduce the Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act of 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C, – Today, Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) introduced the Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act of 2025. More than 600,000 veterans and 275,000 dependents use G.I. Bill education benefits. VA is working to modernize the program through the Digital G.I. Bill, but most communications are still sent on paper.This legislation would allow veterans to opt-out of receiving hard copy G.I. Bill documents in the mail and instead receive electronic correspondence from VA. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.) is leading the bill in the House. Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.): “This is a simple, long overdue way to give veterans the option to go digital. It
Senator Jim Banks Praises “Trump Bump” in Military Recruitment Numbers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) discussed the increase in military recruitment numbers following the November 5th, 2024 election of President Trump with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth budget before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC): Click the image above for the full questioning For the first five months of President Trump’s term, Army recruitment has gone up 26% and Navy recruitment has gone up 47% compared to the same time under President Biden. Under President Trump, Army met and beat its yearly (12-month) recruitment and retention goals in 8 months. Additionally, The Air Force announced it expects to meet its recruitment goals for the year later this month in June. Under President Biden, the U.S. Army fell short by over
Banks, Slotkin Introduce Legislation to Ban Student Cell Phones at DoDEA
WASHINGTON, D.C, – Today, Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) introduced the Restoring our Educational Focus on Children of U.S. Servicemembers at DoDEA (REFOCUS DoDEA) Act. This legislation will help students at Department of Defense K-12 schools focus more on learning by banning student cellphones in the classroom. Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.): “Cell phones in the classroom distract from learning and lead to all kinds of issues for students. My bill with Senator Slotkin will get them out of our schools on military bases.” Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.): “At school students should be able to focus, learn, and build real relationships, and we cannot shy away from taking bold action to
U.S. Senator Jim Banks introduces legislation to improve Veterans’ benefits
Last week, U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Angus King (I-Maine) introduced the Review Every Veteran’s Claim Act. This bipartisan legislation seeks to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims process, ensuring that veterans’ benefit claims are never denied because they miss a medical disability exam appointment. Veterans and veteran service organizations frequently report frustration with the exam scheduling process, and they should not be penalized for administrative mix-ups. Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas-08) is the lead in the House. “Veterans’ benefit claims shouldn’t be tossed aside because of red tape or poor communication,” Sen. Banks said. “VA has a duty to assist veterans
Exclusive: Sen. Jim Banks Unveils ‘Promoting Classical Learning Act,’ Requiring Military Academies to Accept Alternative Admissions Test
Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) unveiled legislation on Wednesday that would require American military service academies to accept the Classical Learning Test (CLT) as an admissions option. “The Classical Learning Test is the standard for academic excellence, and our service academies should accept nothing less. My bill ensures we recruit the brightest, most well-rounded young Americans to lead and defend our nation,” Banks said in a written statement to Breitbart News. The Promoting Classical Learning Act would mandate that military academies such as West Point and the Naval Academy accept the CLT alongside the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Test (ACT). The
‘JD Vance will be the nominee in 2028 — mark my words’
Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) has long been an advocate for Vice President JD Vance. Before the 2024 GOP convention, Banks urged President Donald Trump to pick Vance as his running mate. Now Banks says, “After President Trump, [Vance] is the next best thing” and is a lock to be the next Republican nominee for president. “JD Vance will be the nominee in 2028 — mark my words,” Banks told a dinner in Washington last week organized by American Spectator Editor-in-Chief R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr. Banks also predicted Vance will win the 2028 general election if Republicans follow the prescription Banks laid out for lasting GOP success: diminishing