GI Bill STEM Extension Act of 2017

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide additional educational assistance benefits under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs to certain eligible individuals. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the GI Bill STEM Extension Act of 2017 2. Additional educational assistance under Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Subchapter II of chapter 33 3320. Additional benefits (a) In general Subject to the limitation under subsection (f), the Secretary shall provide additional benefits to eligible individuals selected by the Secretary under this section. (b) Eligibility For purposes of this section, an eligible individual is an individual— (1) who is or was entitled to educational assistance under section 3311 of this title; (2) who has used all of the educational assistance to which the individual is entitled under this chapter; (3) who applies for assistance under this section; and (4) who— (A) is enrolled in a program of education leading to a post-secondary degree that requires more than the standard 128 semester (or 192 quarter) credit hours for completion in— (i) biological or biomedical science; (ii) physical science; (iii) science technologies or technicians; (iv) computer and information science and support services; (v) mathematics or statistics; (vi) engineering; (vii) engineering technologies or an engineering-related field; (viii) a health profession or related program; or (ix) a medical residency program; or (B) has earned a post-secondary degree in a field referred to in subparagraph (A) and is enrolled in a program of education leading to a teaching certification. (c) Priority In selecting eligible individuals to receive additional benefits under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to the following individuals: (1) Individuals who require the most credit hours described in subsection (b)(4). (2) Individuals who are entitled to educational assistance under this chapter by reason of paragraph (1) or (2) of section 3311(b) of this title. (d) Amount of assistance The Secretary shall pay to each eligible individual who receives additional benefits under this section a one-time, lump sum payment that is the lesser of the following amounts (adjusted with respect to the individual pursuant to paragraphs (2) through (7) of section 3313(c), as appropriate): (1) The amount payable under section 3313 of this title for nine months of the program of education in which the individual is enrolled. (2) $30,000. (e) Prohibition on transfer An individual who receives additional benefits under this section may not transfer any amount of such additional benefits under section 3319 of this title. (f) Maximum amount of total assistance The total amount of benefits paid to all eligible individuals under this section may not exceed $100,000,000 for any fiscal year. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3319 the following new item: 3320. Additional benefits. .

Summary: GI Bill STEM Extension Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay the lesser of nine months or $30,000 of additional Post-9/11 educational assistance to selected eligible veterans who have used all of the Post-9/11 educational assistance to which they were entitled and who: (1) are enrolled in a postsecondary education program that requires more than the standard 128 semester (or 192 quarter) credit hours for completion in a specified science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field; or (2) have earned a postsecondary degree in one of those fields and are enrolled in a teaching certification program. In selecting eligible individuals, priority shall be given to individuals who: (1) require the most credit hours; or (2) served on active duty service for at least 36 months with an honorable discharge, continued active duty service after such 36-month period, or served at least 30 days of continuous active duty service with a service-connected discharge. Such additional assistance may not be transferred. The maximum amount of assistance paid to all eligible individuals in a fiscal year may not exceed $100 million.