I

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1365

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize accelerated payments

for short-term, high-cost courses taken by veterans pursuing post secondary education, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 16, 1993

Mr. RAHALL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize accelerated payments for short-term, high-cost courses taken

by veterans pursuing post secondary education, and for

other purposes.

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

3 SECTION 1. ACCELERATED PAYMENTS FOR SHORT-TERM,

4 HIGH-COST COURSES IN POST SECONDARY

5 EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

6 Section 3680 of title 38, United States Code, is

7 amended by adding at the end thereof the following new

8 subsection:
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1 ‘‘(h) ACCELERATED PAYMENTS OF EDUCATIONAL

2 ASSISTANCE FOR SHORT-TERM, HIGH-COST COURSES.—

3 (1) In the case of a short-term, high-cost course taken

4 under a program of education at an educational institu5 tion, a veteran or person entitled to educational assistance

6 under chapter 30 of this title may be paid an educational

7 assistance allowance accelerated payment, subject to the

8 provisions of this subsection. Such accelerated payment

9 shall be in a lump sum but may not exceed the total cost

10 of the course to the veteran or person. In no event shall

11 an accelerated payment be made under this subsection to

12 a veteran or person intending to pursue a program of edu13 cation on less than a half-time basis. An accelerated pay14 ment may not be made under this subsection to any vet15 eran or person unless the veteran or person requests such

16 payment and the Secretary finds that the educational in17 stitution at which such veteran or person is accepted or

18 enrolled has agreed to, and can satisfactorily, carry out

19 the provisions of paragraphs (4) (B) and (C) and (5) of

20 this subsection.

21 ‘‘(2) The application for accelerated payment shall be

22 made on a form prescribed by the Secretary.

23 ‘‘(3) For purposes of the Secretary’s determination

24 whether any veteran or person is eligible for an accelerated

25 payment under this section, the information submitted by
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1 the institution, the veteran or person, shall establish such

2 veteran’s or person’s eligibility unless there is evidence in

3 such veteran’s or person’s file in the processing office es4 tablishing that the veteran or person is not eligible for

5 such accelerated payment.

6 ‘‘(4) The accelerated payment authorized by this sub7 section shall, in the case of an eligible veteran or eligible

8 person, be (A) drawn in favor of the veteran or person;

9 (B) mailed to the educational institution listed on the ap10 plication form for temporary care and delivery to the vet11 eran or person by such institution; and (C) delivered to

12 the veteran or person upon such veteran’s or person’s reg13 istration at such institution, but in no event shall such

14 delivery be made earlier than thirty days before the pro15 gram of education is to commence.

16 ‘‘(5) Upon delivery of the accelerated payment pursu17 ant to paragraph (4) of this subsection, the institution

18 shall submit to the Secretary a certification of such deliv19 ery. If such delivery is not effected within thirty days after

20 commencement of the program of education in question,

21 such institution shall return such payment to the Sec22 retary forthwith.

23 ‘‘(6) Payment may not be made under this subsection

24 for a short-term, high-cost course that exceeds six months
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1 in duration or that is not approved under and for the pur2 poses of this chapter.’’.

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