IIB 

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. 


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1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘GI Bill National Emer5 gency Extended Deadline Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF TIME LIMITATION FOR USE OF ENTI7 TLEMENT UNDER DEPARTMENT OF VET8 ERANS AFFAIRS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 

9 PROGRAMS BY REASON OF SCHOOL CLO10 SURES DUE TO EMERGENCY AND OTHER SIT11 UATIONS. 

12 (a) MONTGOMERY GI BILL.—Section 3031 of title 

13 38, United States Code, is amended— 

14 (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘and sub15 section (i)’’ after ‘‘through (g)’’; and 

16 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub17 section: 

18 ‘‘(i)(1) In the case of an individual eligible for edu19 cational assistance under this chapter who is prevented 

20 from pursuing the individual’s chosen program of edu21 cation before the expiration of the 10-year period for the 

22 use of entitlement under this chapter otherwise applicable 

23 under this section because of a covered reason, as deter24 mined by the Secretary, such 10-year period— 


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1 ‘‘(A) shall not run during the period the indi2 vidual is so prevented from pursuing such program; 

3 and 

4 ‘‘(B) shall again begin running on a date deter5 mined by the Secretary that is— 

6 ‘‘(i) not earlier than the first day after the 

7 individual is able to resume pursuit of a pro8 gram of education with educational assistance 

9 under this chapter; and 

10 ‘‘(ii) not later than 90 days after that day. 

11 ‘‘(2) In this subsection, a covered reason is— 

12 ‘‘(A) the temporary or permanent closure of an 

13 educational institution by reason of an emergency 

14 situation; or 

15 ‘‘(B) another reason that prevents the indi16 vidual from pursuing the individual’s chosen pro17 gram of education, as determined by the Sec18 retary.’’. 

19 (b) POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.— Section 

20 3321(b)(1) of such title is amended— 

21 (1) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ before ‘‘Subsections’’; 

22 (2) by striking ‘‘and (d)’’ and inserting ‘‘(d), 

23 and (i)’’; and 

24 (3) by adding at the end the following new sub25 paragraph: 


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1 ‘‘(B) Subsection (i) of section 3031 of this title 

2 shall apply with respect to the running of the 15- 

3 year period described in paragraphs (4)(A) and 

4 (5)(A) of this subsection in the same manner as 

5 such subsection (i) applies under such section 3031 

6 with respect to the running of the 10-year period de7 scribed in subsection (a) of such section.’’. 

8 SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY BY REASON 

9 OF SCHOOL CLOSURES DUE TO EMERGENCY 

10 AND OTHER SITUATIONS UNDER DEPART11 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TRAINING AND 

12 REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR VETERANS 

13 WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES. 

14 Section 3103 of title 38, United States Code, is 

15 amended— 

16 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘or (g)’’ and 

17 inserting ‘‘(g), or (h)’’; and 

18 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub19 section: 

20 ‘‘(h)(1) In the case of a veteran who is eligible for 

21 a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter and 

22 who is prevented from participating in the vocational reha23 bilitation program within the period of eligibility pre24 scribed in subsection (a) because of a covered reason, as 

25 determined by the Secretary, such period of eligibility— 


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1 ‘‘(A) shall not run during the period the vet2 eran is so prevented from participating in such pro3 gram; and 

4 ‘‘(B) shall again begin running on a date deter5 mined by the Secretary that is— 

6 ‘‘(i) not earlier than the first day after the 

7 veteran is able to resume participation in a vo8 cational rehabilitation program under this chap9 ter; and 

10 ‘‘(ii) not later than 90 days after that day. 

11 ‘‘(2) In this subsection, a covered reason is— 

12 ‘‘(A) the temporary or permanent closure of an 

13 educational institution by reason of an emergency 

14 situation; or 

15 ‘‘(B) another reason that prevents the veteran 

16 from participating in the vocational rehabilitation 

17 program, as determined by the Secretary.’’. 


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1 SEC. 4. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DIS2 APPROVAL OF COURSES OFFERED BY PUBLIC 

3 INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING THAT 

4 DO NOT CHARGE VETERANS THE IN-STATE 

5 TUITION RATE FOR PURPOSES OF SUR6 VIVORS’ AND DEPENDENTS’ EDUCATIONAL 

7 ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3679(c) of title 38, 

9 United States Code, is amended— 

10 (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘or 33’’ and 

11 inserting ‘‘33, or 35’’; 

12 (2) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the 

13 following new subparagraph: 

14 ‘‘(D) An individual who is entitled to assistance 

15 under section 3510 of this title.’’; and 

16 (3) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘and 33’’ and 

17 inserting ‘‘33, and 35’’. 

18 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 3679(e) 

19 of such title is amended— 

20 (1) in paragraph (1)— 

21 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or 

22 33’’ and inserting ‘‘, 33, or 35’’; and 

23 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘or 

24 33’’ and inserting ‘‘33, or 35’’; and 

25 (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or 33’’ and 

26 inserting ‘‘33, or 35’’. 


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1 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

2 this Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment 

3 of this Act and shall apply with respect to an academic 

4 period that begins on or after August 1, 2022. 

5 SEC. 5. IMPROVEMENTS TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 

6 SERVICES USED TO PROCESS CLAIMS FOR 

7 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE. 

8 (a) MODERN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERV9 ICE.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement 

10 an information technology service to process claims for 

11 educational assistance under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 

12 of title 38, United States Code, using one or more com13 mercial software systems. The Secretary shall complete 

14 such implementation not later than August 1, 2024. 

15 (b) REQUIRED CAPABILITIES.—The Secretary shall 

16 ensure that the modern information technology service 

17 under subsection (a) has the following capabilities: 

18 (1) As compared to legacy information tech19 nology systems— 

20 (A) the ability to process claims faster and 

21 in a more efficient manner by improving proc22 essing integration and accuracy; 

23 (B) improved data exchange and reporting; 

24 and 


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1 (C) improved customer integration and 

2 simplification of the online experience. 

3 (2) Timely communication by employees of the 

4 Department of Veterans Affairs to individuals and 

5 educational institutions using an online portal that 

6 can provide real-time information on claims for edu7 cational assistance. 

8 (3) The ability to be customized to address fu9 ture capabilities required by law. 

10 (4) Fully automated to the extent practicable 

11 for all original and supplemental claims, including 

12 with respect to calculating accurate awards. 

13 (5) The ability for individuals entitled to edu14 cational assistance to electronically apply for, with15 draw from, and amend such entitlement, and to re16 allocate a transferred entitlement. 

17 (6) The ability to electronically process changes 

18 made by educational institutions. 

19 (7) The ability to verify attendance at an edu20 cational institution. 

21 (8) The ability to process validations made by 

22 an educational institution. 

23 (c) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after 

24 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 

25 submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the 


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1 House of Representatives and the Senate a report con2 taining information on the cost, schedule, and perform3 ance of the project for implementing such system, includ4 ing, with respect to such project, the following: 

5 (1) An estimate of acquisition, implementation, 

6 and life cycle costs (including all direct and indirect 

7 costs to acquire, implement, operate, and maintain 

8 such system). 

9 (2) An intended implementation schedule indi10 cating significant milestones, initial operating capa11 bility, and full operating capability or completion. 

12 (3) Key business, functional, or performance 

13 objectives. 

14 (4) With respect to both original claims and 

15 supplemental claims processed on a monthly basis, 

16 statistics regarding— 

17 (A) the number of such claims processed 

18 using legacy information systems; 

19 (B) the number of such claims that were 

20 off-ramped and processed manually; and 

21 (C) the number of such claims estimated 

22 to be processed using the modern information 

23 technology service. 

24 (5) The amount of savings that are estimated 

25 to be realized from using the modern information 


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1 technology service rather than legacy information 

2 technology systems. 

3 (6) The estimated accuracy of processing 

4 claims. 

5 (7) The estimated timeliness for— 

6 (A) processing original claims; and 

7 (B) processing supplemental claims. 

8 (8) A description of how the modern informa9 tion technology service will— 

10 (A) automate the processing of original 

11 claims; and 

12 (B) automate the processing of supple13 mental claims. 

14 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

15 (1) The term ‘‘legacy information technology 

16 system’’ means an information technology system 

17 used by the Department of Veterans Affairs to proc18 ess claims for educational assistance under chapters 

19 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States Code, 

20 before the date on which the Secretary of Veterans 

21 Affairs awards a contract under subsection (a) for 

22 the modern information technology service. 

23 (2) The term ‘‘modern information technology 

24 service’’ means the information technology service 

25 implemented under subsection (a) to process claims 


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1 for educational assistance under chapters 30, 33, 35, 

2 and 36 of title 38, United States Code. 

3 SEC. 6. TIME PERIOD FOR ELIGIBILITY UNDER SURVIVORS’ 

4 AND DEPENDENTS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSIST5 ANCE PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VET6 ERANS AFFAIRS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3512 of title 38, United 

8 States Code, is amended— 

9 (1) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub10 section (f); and 

11 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub12 section: 

13 ‘‘(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this sec14 tion, the following persons may be afforded educational 

15 assistance under this chapter at any time after August 

16 1, 2023, and without regard to the age of the person: 

17 ‘‘(1) A person who first becomes an eligible per18 son on or after August 1, 2023. 

19 ‘‘(2) A person who— 

20 ‘‘(A) first becomes an eligible person be21 fore August 1, 2023; and 

22 ‘‘(B) becomes 18 years of age, or com23 pletes secondary schooling, on or after August 

24 1, 2023.’’. 


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1 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Such section is 

2 further amended— 

3 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘The edu4 cational’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in sub5 section (g), the educational’’; 

6 (2) in subsection (b)— 

7 (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting 

8 ‘‘subsection (g) or’’ after ‘‘provided in’’; and 

9 (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘Not10 withstanding’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as pro11 vided in subsection (g), notwithstanding’’; and 

12 (3) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘No person’’ 

13 and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in subsection (g), 

14 no person’’. 

15 SEC. 7. PILOT PROGRAM ON SHORT-TERM FELLOWSHIP 

16 PROGRAMS. 

17 (a) AUTHORITY.—The Assistant Secretary of Labor 

18 for Veterans’ Employment and Training shall carry out 

19 a pilot program under which a State may use a grant or 

20 contract under section 4102A(b)(5) of title 38, United 

21 States Code, to carry out a short-term fellowship program. 

22 (b) LOCATIONS; AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary shall 

23 select at least three, but not more than five, States to 

24 carry out a short-term fellowship program pursuant to 

25 subsection (a). Each such State shall enter into an agreeVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:11 May 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2167.RFS H2167

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1 ment with a non-profit organization to carry out such pro2 gram. 

3 (c) SHORT-TERM FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.—Each 

4 short-term fellowship program carried out by a State pur5 suant to subsection (a) shall— 

6 (1) consist of veterans participating as fellows 

7 with an employer for a period not exceeding 20 

8 weeks; 

9 (2) provide to such veterans a monthly stipend 

10 during such period; and 

11 (3) provide to such veterans an opportunity to 

12 be employed on a long-term basis with the employer 

13 following such period. 

14 (d) AMOUNT OF STIPEND.—The amount of the sti15 pend provided to a veteran pursuant to subsection (c)(2) 

16 for a month shall be the amount equal to the amount of 

17 the wages earned by the veteran during that month for 

18 participating in the fellowship. 

19 (e) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT.—Not later 

20 than four years after the date on which the pilot program 

21 commences under this section, the Comptroller General of 

22 the United States shall submit to the Committees on Vet23 erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 

24 Senate a report on the pilot program. 


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1 (f) DEFINITION OF STATE.—In this section, the term 

2 ‘‘State’’ has the meaning given such term in section 

3 4101(6) of title 38, United States Code. 

4 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi5 tion to funds made available under section 4102A(b)(5) 

6 of title 38, United States Code, there is authorized to be 

7 appropriated to the Assistant Secretary to carry out the 

8 pilot program under this section $15,000,000 for each of 

9 fiscal years 2021 through 2025. 

10 SEC. 8. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 

11 The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 

12 complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 

13 shall be determined by reference to the latest statement 

14 titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for this 

15 Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record 

16 by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, pro17 vided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 

18 vote on passage. 

Passed the House of Representatives May 18, 2021. 

Attest: CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 

Clerk. 


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