[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2167 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2167
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 19, 2021
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for extensions of the
time limitations for use of entitlement under Department of Veterans
Affairs educational assistance programs by reason of school closures
due to emergency and other situations, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``GI Bill National Emergency Extended
Deadline Act''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF TIME LIMITATION FOR USE OF ENTITLEMENT UNDER
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS BY REASON OF SCHOOL CLOSURES DUE TO EMERGENCY
AND OTHER SITUATIONS.
(a) Montgomery GI Bill.--Section 3031 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``and subsection (i)''
after ``through (g)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(i)(1) In the case of an individual eligible for educational
assistance under this chapter who is prevented from pursuing the
individual's chosen program of education before the expiration of the
10-year period for the use of entitlement under this chapter otherwise
applicable under this section because of a covered reason, as
determined by the Secretary, such 10-year period--
``(A) shall not run during the period the individual is so
prevented from pursuing such program; and
``(B) shall again begin running on a date determined by the
Secretary that is--
``(i) not earlier than the first day after the
individual is able to resume pursuit of a program of
education with educational assistance under this
chapter; and
``(ii) not later than 90 days after that day.
``(2) In this subsection, a covered reason is--
``(A) the temporary or permanent closure of an educational
institution by reason of an emergency situation; or
``(B) another reason that prevents the individual from
pursuing the individual's chosen program of education, as
determined by the Secretary.''.
(b) Post-9/11 Educational Assistance.-- Section 3321(b)(1) of such
title is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(A)'' before ``Subsections'';
(2) by striking ``and (d)'' and inserting ``(d), and (i)'';
and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(B) Subsection (i) of section 3031 of this title shall
apply with respect to the running of the 15-year period
described in paragraphs (4)(A) and (5)(A) of this subsection in
the same manner as such subsection (i) applies under such
section 3031 with respect to the running of the 10-year period
described in subsection (a) of such section.''.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY BY REASON OF SCHOOL CLOSURES
DUE TO EMERGENCY AND OTHER SITUATIONS UNDER DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS TRAINING AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR
VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES.
Section 3103 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``or (g)'' and inserting
``(g), or (h)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(h)(1) In the case of a veteran who is eligible for a vocational
rehabilitation program under this chapter and who is prevented from
participating in the vocational rehabilitation program within the
period of eligibility prescribed in subsection (a) because of a covered
reason, as determined by the Secretary, such period of eligibility--
``(A) shall not run during the period the veteran is so
prevented from participating in such program; and
``(B) shall again begin running on a date determined by the
Secretary that is--
``(i) not earlier than the first day after the
veteran is able to resume participation in a vocational
rehabilitation program under this chapter; and
``(ii) not later than 90 days after that day.
``(2) In this subsection, a covered reason is--
``(A) the temporary or permanent closure of an educational
institution by reason of an emergency situation; or
``(B) another reason that prevents the veteran from
participating in the vocational rehabilitation program, as
determined by the Secretary.''.
SEC. 4. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DISAPPROVAL OF COURSES OFFERED
BY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING THAT DO NOT
CHARGE VETERANS THE IN-STATE TUITION RATE FOR PURPOSES OF
SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 3679(c) of title 38, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or 33'' and inserting
``33, or 35'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(D) An individual who is entitled to assistance under
section 3510 of this title.''; and
(3) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and 33'' and inserting
``33, and 35''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3679(e) of such title is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or 33'' and
inserting ``, 33, or 35''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``or 33'' and
inserting ``33, or 35''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or 33'' and inserting
``33, or 35''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall take
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with
respect to an academic period that begins on or after August 1, 2022.
SEC. 5. IMPROVEMENTS TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES USED TO PROCESS
CLAIMS FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) Modern Information Technology Service.--The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall implement an information technology service to
process claims for educational assistance under chapters 30, 33, 35,
and 36 of title 38, United States Code, using one or more commercial
software systems. The Secretary shall complete such implementation not
later than August 1, 2024.
(b) Required Capabilities.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
modern information technology service under subsection (a) has the
following capabilities:
(1) As compared to legacy information technology systems--
(A) the ability to process claims faster and in a
more efficient manner by improving processing
integration and accuracy;
(B) improved data exchange and reporting; and
(C) improved customer integration and
simplification of the online experience.
(2) Timely communication by employees of the Department of
Veterans Affairs to individuals and educational institutions
using an online portal that can provide real-time information
on claims for educational assistance.
(3) The ability to be customized to address future
capabilities required by law.
(4) Fully automated to the extent practicable for all
original and supplemental claims, including with respect to
calculating accurate awards.
(5) The ability for individuals entitled to educational
assistance to electronically apply for, withdraw from, and
amend such entitlement, and to reallocate a transferred
entitlement.
(6) The ability to electronically process changes made by
educational institutions.
(7) The ability to verify attendance at an educational
institution.
(8) The ability to process validations made by an
educational institution.
(c) Initial Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a
report containing information on the cost, schedule, and performance of
the project for implementing such system, including, with respect to
such project, the following:
(1) An estimate of acquisition, implementation, and life
cycle costs (including all direct and indirect costs to
acquire, implement, operate, and maintain such system).
(2) An intended implementation schedule indicating
significant milestones, initial operating capability, and full
operating capability or completion.
(3) Key business, functional, or performance objectives.
(4) With respect to both original claims and supplemental
claims processed on a monthly basis, statistics regarding--
(A) the number of such claims processed using
legacy information systems;
(B) the number of such claims that were off-ramped
and processed manually; and
(C) the number of such claims estimated to be
processed using the modern information technology
service.
(5) The amount of savings that are estimated to be realized
from using the modern information technology service rather
than legacy information technology systems.
(6) The estimated accuracy of processing claims.
(7) The estimated timeliness for--
(A) processing original claims; and
(B) processing supplemental claims.
(8) A description of how the modern information technology
service will--
(A) automate the processing of original claims; and
(B) automate the processing of supplemental claims.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``legacy information technology system'' means
an information technology system used by the Department of
Veterans Affairs to process claims for educational assistance
under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States
Code, before the date on which the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs awards a contract under subsection (a) for the modern
information technology service.
(2) The term ``modern information technology service''
means the information technology service implemented under
subsection (a) to process claims for educational assistance
under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States
Code.
SEC. 6. TIME PERIOD FOR ELIGIBILITY UNDER SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS'
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Section 3512 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (f); and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the
following persons may be afforded educational assistance under this
chapter at any time after August 1, 2023, and without regard to the age
of the person:
``(1) A person who first becomes an eligible person on or
after August 1, 2023.
``(2) A person who--
``(A) first becomes an eligible person before
August 1, 2023; and
``(B) becomes 18 years of age, or completes
secondary schooling, on or after August 1, 2023.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Such section is further amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``The educational'' and
inserting ``Except as provided in subsection (g), the
educational'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ``subsection
(g) or'' after ``provided in''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking
``Notwithstanding'' and inserting ``Except as provided
in subsection (g), notwithstanding''; and
(3) in subsection (e), by striking ``No person'' and
inserting ``Except as provided in subsection (g), no person''.
SEC. 7. PILOT PROGRAM ON SHORT-TERM FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS.
(a) Authority.--The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans'
Employment and Training shall carry out a pilot program under which a
State may use a grant or contract under section 4102A(b)(5) of title
38, United States Code, to carry out a short-term fellowship program.
(b) Locations; Agreements.--The Secretary shall select at least
three, but not more than five, States to carry out a short-term
fellowship program pursuant to subsection (a). Each such State shall
enter into an agreement with a non-profit organization to carry out
such program.
(c) Short-Term Fellowship Program.--Each short-term fellowship
program carried out by a State pursuant to subsection (a) shall--
(1) consist of veterans participating as fellows with an
employer for a period not exceeding 20 weeks;
(2) provide to such veterans a monthly stipend during such
period; and
(3) provide to such veterans an opportunity to be employed
on a long-term basis with the employer following such period.
(d) Amount of Stipend.--The amount of the stipend provided to a
veteran pursuant to subsection (c)(2) for a month shall be the amount
equal to the amount of the wages earned by the veteran during that
month for participating in the fellowship.
(e) Comptroller General Report.--Not later than four years after
the date on which the pilot program commences under this section, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committees
on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a
report on the pilot program.
(f) Definition of State.--In this section, the term ``State'' has
the meaning given such term in section 4101(6) of title 38, United
States Code.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to funds made
available under section 4102A(b)(5) of title 38, United States Code,
there is authorized to be appropriated to the Assistant Secretary to
carry out the pilot program under this section $15,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
SEC. 8. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
Passed the House of Representatives May 18, 2021.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.