AUTHORIZING SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO TREAT CERTAIN PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION CONVERTED TO DISTANCE LEARNING BY REASON OF EMERGENCIES AND HEALTH-RELATED SITUATIONS IN SAME MANNER AS PROGRAMS OF...; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 53
(House of Representatives - March 19, 2020)
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[Pages H1709-H1710]
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AUTHORIZING SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO TREAT CERTAIN PROGRAMS OF
EDUCATION CONVERTED TO DISTANCE LEARNING BY REASON OF EMERGENCIES AND
HEALTH-RELATED SITUATIONS IN SAME MANNER AS PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION
PURSUED AT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the
Speaker's table the 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, and ask for its
immediate consideration in the House.
[[Page H1710]]
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Maryland?
There was no objection.
The text of the bill is 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.
The bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the third
time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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