AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO TREAT CERTAIN PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION CONVERTED TO DISTANCE LEARNING BY REASON OF EMERGENCIES AND HEALTH-RELATED SITUATIONS IN THE SAME MANNER AS...; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 50
(Senate - March 16, 2020)
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[Page S1762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO TREAT CERTAIN PROGRAMS
OF EDUCATION CONVERTED TO DISTANCE LEARNING BY REASON OF EMERGENCIES
AND HEALTH-RELATED SITUATIONS IN THE SAME MANNER AS PROGRAMS OF
EDUCATION PURSUED AT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to immediate consideration of S. 3503, introduced earlier
today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the title of the bill.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 3503) to authorize the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to treat certain programs of education converted to
distance learning by reason of emergencies and health-related
situations in the same manner as programs of education
pursued at educational institutions, and for other purposes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to proceeding to the
measure?
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered
read a third time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read
the third time.
Mr. McCONNELL. I know of no further debate on the bill.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate on the bill, the
bill having been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill
pass?
The bill (S. 3503) was passed as follows:
S. 3503
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONTINUATION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN
PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION CONVERTED TO DISTANCE
LEARNING BY REASON OF EMERGENCIES AND HEALTH-
RELATED SITUATIONS.
(a) In General.--In the case of a program of education
approved by a State approving agency, or the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs when acting in the role of a State approving
agency, that is converted from being offered on-site at an
educational institution to being offered by distance learning
by reason of an emergency or health-related situation, as
determined by the Secretary, the Secretary may continue to
provide educational assistance under the laws administered by
the Secretary without regard to such conversion, including
with respect to paying any--
(1) monthly housing stipends under chapter 33 of title 38,
United States Code; or
(2) payments or subsistence allowances under chapters 30,
31, 32, and 35 of such title and chapters 1606 and 1607 of
title 10, United States Code.
(b) Applicability Period.--Subsection (a) shall apply
during the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on
December 21, 2020.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Educational institution.--The term ``educational
institution'' has the meaning given that term in section 3452
of title 38, United States Code, and includes an institution
of higher learning (as defined in such section).
(2) Program of education.--The term ``program of
education'' has the meaning given that term in section 3002
of title 38, United States Code.
(3) State approving agency.--The term ``State approving
agency'' has the meaning given that term in section 3671 of
title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 2. EMERGENCY DESIGNATIONS.
(a) In General.--This Act is designated as an emergency
requirement pursuant to section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-
You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).
(b) Designation in Senate.--In the Senate, this Act is
designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section
4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent
resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion
to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________