VA Work-Study Improvement Act

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the VA Work-Study program. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the VA Work-Study Improvement Act 2. Improvements to VA Work-Study program (a) Authorized activities Subsection (a)(5) of section 3485 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (L) Any other activity at an agency of a State or local government or a nonprofit organization that would benefit, directly or indirectly, veterans or members of the Armed Forces. . (b) Applicable hourly minimum wage Paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of such section is amended to read as follows: (7) In this subsection and subsection (e): (A) The term applicable hourly minimum wages (i) The minimum rate of basic pay for any Federal employee under the General Schedule or the Federal Wage System pursuant to parts 530 and 532 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations. (ii) The hourly minimum wage under comparable law of the State in which the services are to be performed. (iii) The hourly minimum wage under comparable law of the local government with jurisdiction over the area in which the services are to be performed. (B) The term rate of basic pay . (c) Electronic timesheets Such section is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (f) The Secretary shall ensure that— (1) an individual participating in a qualifying work-study activity may electronically record the hours worked under such activity; and (2) the supervisor of such individual may electronically approve such records. . (d) Publication of data Such section, as amended by subsection (c), is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (g) On an annual basis, the Secretary shall publish the following information regarding qualifying work-study activities carried out during the covered year: (1) The number of individuals who participated in a qualifying work-study activity. (2) The demographics of such individuals. (3) A description of such activities. (4) The wages paid to such individuals. (5) The number of hours worked by such individuals. (6) A list of the participating educational institutions. . (e) Applicability The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to a payment of work-study allowance made under section 3485 of title 38, United States Code, on or after January 1, 2026.

Summary: VA Work-Study Improvement Act This bill modifies certain pay and eligibility requirements under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) work-study program, including minimum wage and timesheet requirements. The bill expands the list of qualifying work-study activities to include state government, local government, or nonprofit organization activities that would benefit veterans or members of the Armed Forces. The bill also modifies minimum wage requirements under the work-study program. Under the bill, the hourly minimum wage paid under the work-study program must be the higher of (1) the minimum rate of basic pay for any federal employee (under the general schedule or federal wage system pursuant to specified regulations), (2) the hourly minimum wage in the state where the services are to be performed, or (3) the hourly minimum wage of the local government with jurisdiction over the area in which the services are to be performed. Additionally, the VA must ensure that (1) an individual participating in a qualifying work-study activity may electronically record such hours, and (2) the supervisor may electronically approve such records. Finally, the VA must annually publish specified information regarding qualifying work-study activities carried out during the year, including the demographics of individuals participating in the program.