H. R. 3504 

One Hundred Sixteenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE SECOND SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and twenty 

An Act 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for improvements to the specially 

adapted housing program and educational assistance programs of the Department 

of Veterans Affairs, 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 ‘‘Ryan Kules and Paul Benne 

Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2019’’. 

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO ASSIST 

BLIND VETERANS WHO HAVE NOT LOST USE OF A LEG IN 

ACQUIRING SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING. 

Section 2101 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a)(2)— 

(A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ‘‘permanent and 

total’’; and 

(B) in subparagraph (B), 

(i) in clauses (i), (iii), (iv), and (v), by inserting 

‘‘permanent and total’’ before ‘‘disability’’; and 

(ii) in clause (ii)— 

(I) by inserting ‘‘permanent’’ before ‘‘disability’’; 

(II) by striking ‘‘due to—’’ and inserting ‘‘due 

to blindness in both eyes, having central visual 

acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with 

the use of a standard correcting lens. For the 

purposes of this clause, an eye with a limitation 

in the fields of vision such that the widest diameter 

of the visual field subtends an angle no greater 

than 20 degrees shall be considered as having 

a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less.’’; and 

(III) by striking subclauses (I) and (II); and 

(2) in subsection (b)(2)— 

(A) by striking subparagraph (A); and 

(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as 

subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively. 

SEC. 3. INCREASE IN AMOUNTS OF SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 

ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS. 

(a) INCREASE OF NUMBER OF GRANTS PER VETERAN.—Section 

2102(d)(3) of such title is amended— 
H. R. 3504—2 

(1) by striking ‘‘No veteran’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to subsection (f), no veteran’’; and 

(2) by striking ‘‘three’’ and inserting ‘‘six’’. 

(b) INCREASE IN NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS AUTHORIZED TO

BE APPROVED.—Section 2101(a)(4) of such title is amended by 

striking ‘‘30 applications’’ and inserting ‘‘120 applications’’. 

(c) INCREASE IN MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE FOR ADAPTATION TO VETERAN’S RESIDENCE.—Section 2102(b)(2) of such title 

is amended by striking ‘‘$12,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$19,733’’. 

(d) INCREASE IN AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE FOR

ACQUISITION OF HOUSING WITH SPECIAL FEATURES.—Section 

2102(d)(1) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘$63,780’’ and 

inserting ‘‘$98,492’’. 

(e) INCREASE IN AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE FOR

ADAPTATIONS TO VETERANS’ RESIDENCES.—Section 2102(d)(2) of 

such title is amended by striking ‘‘$12,756’’ and inserting ‘‘$19,733’’. 

(f) EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPLICATION.—The amendments made 

by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2020. 

SEC. 4. PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF SPECIALLY ADAPTED 

HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS. 

Section 2102 of such title, as amended by section 3, is further 

amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

‘‘(f)(1) Beginning October 1, 2030, notwithstanding the aggregate amounts specified in subsection (d), a covered veteran may 

apply for and receive an additional amount of assistance under 

subsection (a) or (b) of section 2101 of this title in an amount 

that does not exceed half of the amount specified in subsection 

(d). 

‘‘(2) In this subsection, a covered veteran is a veteran who— 

‘‘(A) is described in subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) of section 

2101 of this title; 

‘‘(B) as of the date of the veteran’s application for assistance 

under paragraph (1), most recently received assistance under 

this chapter more than 10 years before such date; and 

‘‘(C) lives in a home that the Secretary determines does 

not have adaptations that are reasonably necessary because 

of the veteran’s disability.’’. 

SEC. 5. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PREPARATORY COURSES AS PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION FOR PURPOSES OF DEPARTMENT OF 

VETERANS AFFAIRS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, 

is amended by inserting after section 3315A the following new 

section: 

‘‘§ 3315B. Preparatory courses for licensure, certification, or 

national tests 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An individual entitled to educational assistance under this chapter shall also be entitled to payment for a 

covered preparatory course. 

‘‘(b) AMOUNT.—The amount of educational assistance payable 

under this chapter for a covered preparatory course is the lesser 

of— 

‘‘(1) the fee charged for the covered preparatory course; 

or 
H. R. 3504—3 

‘‘(2) the amount of entitlement available to the individual 

under this chapter at the time of payment for the covered 

preparatory course under this section. 

‘‘(c) CHARGE AGAINST ENTITLEMENT.—The number of months 

of entitlement charged an individual under this chapter for a covered preparatory course shall be pro-rated based on the actual 

amount of the fee charged for the covered preparatory course relative to the rate for 1 month payable— 

‘‘(1) for the academic year beginning on August 1, 2020, 

$2,042; or 

‘‘(2) for an academic year beginning on any subsequent 

August 1, the amount for the previous academic year beginning 

on August 1 under this subsection, as increased by the percentage increase equal to the most recent percentage increase determined under section 3015(h). 

‘‘(d) COVERED PREPARATORY COURSE DEFINED.—In this section, 

the term ‘covered preparatory course’ means a course— 

‘‘(1) for a licensing or certification test that is required 

or used to enter into, maintain, or advance in employment 

in a predetermined and identified vocation or profession; and 

‘‘(2) that has been approved by the State approving agency 

concerned.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 

to section 3315A the following new item: 

‘‘3315B. Preparatory courses for licensure, certification, or national tests.’’. 

(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 3532(g) of title 38, 

United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or a covered preparatory 

course (as that term is defined in section 3315B(a) of this 

title)’’ after ‘‘or national test providing an opportunity for course 

credit at institutions of higher learning described in section 

3501(a)(5) of this title’’; and 

(2) in paragraphs (2) and (3), by inserting ‘‘or covered 

preparatory course’’ after ‘‘test’’ each place it appears. 

(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection (a) 

shall take effect on August 1, 2021. 

SEC. 6. IMPROVEMENT TO WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCE PROGRAM. 

(a) PAYMENT OF ALLOWANCE.—Subsection (a) of section 3485 

of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Individuals’’ and inserting 

‘‘In accordance with paragraph (4), individuals’’; 

(2) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively; and 

(3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph: 

‘‘(4)(A) With respect to covered work-study activities, the Secretary shall carry out this section by providing to participating 

educational institutions an annual amount for the institution to 

use in paying work-study allowance under paragraph (1) to individuals enrolled at the institution. 

‘‘(B) With respect to a participating educational institution that 

participated in the work-study program under this section during 

the academic year beginning August 1, 2018, the Secretary shall 
H. R. 3504—4 

determine the annual amount to provide to the educational institution under subparagraph (A) as follows: 

‘‘(i) For the academic year beginning August 1, 2020, the 

amount shall be the total amount, determined in consultation 

with the educational institution, that the Secretary paid under 

this section for covered work-study activities to individuals 

enrolled at such educational institution during the academic 

year beginning August 1, 2018. 

‘‘(ii) Except as provided by clauses (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (D), for each academic year beginning on or after August 

1, 2021, the amount shall be the total amount the educational 

institution paid under this section for work-study allowance 

for covered work-study activities to individuals enrolled at such 

educational institution during the previous academic year in 

which individuals participated in the work-study program. 

‘‘(C) With respect to a participating educational institution that 

did not participate in the work-study program under this section 

during the academic year beginning August 1, 2018, the Secretary 

shall determine the annual amount to provide to the educational 

institution under subparagraph (A) as follows: 

‘‘(i) For the first academic year in which the educational 

institution participates in the work-study program beginning 

on or after August 1, 2020, the amount shall be an amount, 

determined in consultation with the educational institution, 

that the Secretary determines appropriate based on amounts 

provided to similar educational institutions pursuant to 

subparagraph (B). 

‘‘(ii) Except as provided by clauses (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (D), for each academic year occurring after the academic 

year specified in clause (i), the amount shall be the total amount 

the educational institution paid under this section for workstudy allowance for covered work-study activities to individuals 

enrolled at such educational institution during the previous 

academic year in which individuals enrolled at such educational 

institution participated in the work-study program. 

‘‘(D)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), if the Secretary provides 

an annual amount to a participating educational institution under 

subparagraph (B) or (C) that is more than the total amount the 

educational institution pays to individuals under paragraph (1) 

for covered work-study activities, the educational institution shall 

return to the Secretary the unpaid amount and the Secretary shall 

transfer such amount into the general fund of the Treasury. 

‘‘(ii) If the annual amount provided to a participating educational institution under subparagraph (B) or (C) is more, but 

less than 25 percent more, than the total amount the educational 

institution pays to individuals under paragraph (1) for covered 

work-study activities, and the educational institution plans to 

participate in the work-study program under this section during 

the subsequent academic year, the educational institution may 

retain the amount of the overpayment if the educational institution 

notifies the Secretary of the amount of the overpayment and the 

intention of the educational institution to retain such amount. Any 

amount retained by an educational institution under this clause 

may only be used by the educational institution to provide workstudy allowance to individuals enrolled at the educational institution. 
H. R. 3504—5 

‘‘(iii) At any time a participating educational institution may 

request the Secretary to increase the annual amount that the 

Secretary provides the educational institution under subparagraph 

(B) or (C). The Secretary shall approve or disapprove such request 

by not later than 30 days after the date of the request. 

‘‘(iv) Whenever the Secretary finds that a participating educational institution paid an amount of work-study allowance under 

this paragraph to an individual for a purpose other than covered 

work-study activities, such payment shall constitute a liability of 

the educational institution to the United States. 

‘‘(E)(i) Pursuant to section 3690(c), section 3693, and other 

provisions of chapter 36 of this title, the Secretary shall ensure 

that participating educational institutions carry out the work-study 

allowance program in compliance with this section. 

‘‘(ii) The Secretary may prohibit an educational institution from 

being a participating educational institution under this paragraph 

if the Secretary determines that the educational institution is not 

in compliance with this section. 

‘‘(F) In this paragraph: 

‘‘(i) The term ‘covered work-study activities’ means qualifying work-study activities described in subparagraphs (A), (B), 

(H), (I), or (J) of paragraph (5) for which an individual is 

paid a work-study allowance. 

‘‘(ii) The term ‘participating educational institution’ means 

an educational institution that— 

‘‘(I)(aa) during the five-academic-year period occurring 

before an academic year during which the Secretary carries 

out this paragraph, the educational institution had on average more than 10 individuals per academic year participating in a covered work-study activity under this section; 

or 

‘‘(bb) the educational institution is not described by 

item (aa) but informs the Secretary that the institution 

expects to have more than 10 individuals in the following 

academic year participating in a covered work-study 

activity under this section; and 

‘‘(II) voluntarily chooses to be a participating educational institution under this paragraph.’’. 

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (e)(1) of such section 

is amended by striking ‘‘subsection (a)(4)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection 

(a)(5)’’. 

(c) APPLICATION.—The amendments made by this section shall 

apply with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, 

commencing on or after August 1, 2021. 

SEC. 7. ADJUSTMENT OF LOAN FEES. 

Section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 

by striking the loan fee table and inserting the following: 
H. R. 3504—6 

‘‘Type of loan 

Active 

duty 

veteran 

Reservist Other 

obligor 

(A)(i) Initial loan described in section 

3710(a) to purchase or construct a 

dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section 3710(a) 

other than with 5-down or 10-down 

(closed on or after October 1, 2004, and 

before January 1, 2020) 

2.15 2.40 NA 

(A)(ii) Initial loan described in section 

3710(a) to purchase or construct a 

dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section 3710(a) 

other than with 5-down or 10-down 

(closed on or after January 1, 2020, 

and before April 7, 2023) 

2.30 2.30 NA 

(A)(iii) Initial loan described in section 

3710(a) to purchase or construct a 

dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section 3710(a) 

other than with 5-down or 10-down 

(closed on or after April 7, 2023, and 

before October 1, 2029) 

2.15 2.15 NA 

(A)(iv) Initial loan described in section 

3710(a) to purchase or construct a 

dwelling with 0-down, or any other initial loan described in section 3710(a) 

other than with 5-down or 10-down 

(closed on or after October 1, 2029) 

1.40 1.40 NA 

(B)(i) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a 

dwelling with 0-down, or any other 

subsequent loan described in section 

3710(a) (closed on or after October 1, 

2004, and before January 1, 2020) 

3.30 3.30 NA 

(B)(ii) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a 

dwelling with 0-down, or any other 

subsequent loan described in section 

3710(a) (closed on or after January 1, 

2020, and before April 7, 2023) 

3.60 3.60 NA 

(B)(iii) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a 

dwelling with 0-down, or any other 

subsequent loan described in section 

3710(a) (closed on or after April 7, 

2023, and before October 1, 2029) 

3.30 3.30 NA 

(B)(iv) Subsequent loan described in section 3710(a) to purchase or construct a 

dwelling with 0-down, or any other 

subsequent loan described in section 

3710(a) (closed on or after October 1, 

2029) 

1.25 1.25 NA 
H. R. 3504—7 

‘‘Type of loan 

Active 

duty 

veteran 

Reservist Other 

obligor 

(C)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to 

purchase or construct a dwelling with 

5-down (closed before January 1, 2020) 

1.50 1.75 NA 

(C)(ii) Loan described in section 3710(a) 

to purchase or construct a dwelling 

with 5-down (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before April 7, 2023) 

1.65 1.65 NA 

(C)(iii) Loan described in section 3710(a) 

to purchase or construct a dwelling 

with 5-down (closed on or after April 7, 

2023, and before October 1, 2029) 

1.50 1.50 NA 

(C)(iv) Loan described in section 3710(a) 

to purchase or construct a dwelling 

with 5-down (closed on or after October 

1, 2029) 

0.75 0.75 NA 

(D)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to 

purchase or construct a dwelling with 

10-down (closed before January 1, 

2020) 

1.25 1.50 NA 

(D)(ii) Loan described in section 3710(a) 

to purchase or construct a dwelling 

with 10-down (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before April 7, 2023) 

1.40 1.40 NA 

(D)(iii) Loan described in section 3710(a) 

to purchase or construct a dwelling 

with 10-down (closed on or after April 

7, 2023, and before October 1, 2029) 

1.25 1.25 NA 

(D)(iv) Loan described in section 3710(a) 

to purchase or construct a dwelling 

with 10-down (closed on or after October 1, 2029) 

0.50 0.50 NA 

(E) Interest rate reduction refinancing 

loan 

0.50 0.50 NA 

(F) Direct loan under section 3711 1.00 1.00 NA 

(G) Manufactured home loan under section 3712 (other than an interest rate 

reduction refinancing loan) 

1.00 1.00 NA 

(H) Loan to Native American veteran 

under section 3762 (other than an interest rate reduction refinancing loan) 

1.25 1.25 NA 

(I) Loan assumption under section 3714 0.50 0.50 0.50 

(J) Loan under section 3733(a) 2.25 2.25 2.25’’. 

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 
H. R. 3504—8 

Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior 

to the vote on passage. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.