I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4149 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to 
the use of educational assistance provided by the Department of Veterans 
Affairs for flight training programs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 26, 2017 
Mr. WENSTRUP introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain 
improvements to the use of educational assistance pro-
vided by the Department of Veterans Affairs for flight 
training programs. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. IMPROVEMENTS TO ASSISTANCE PROVIDED 
FOR CERTAIN FLIGHT TRAINING AND OTHER 
PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION. 
(a) USE OF ENTITLEMENT FOR PRIVATE PILOT’S LI-
CENSES.—Section 3034(d) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended— 
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(1) in paragraph (1) by striking the semicolon 
and inserting the following: ‘‘and is required for the 
course of education being pursued (including with 
respect to a dual major, concentration, or other ele-
ment a degree); and’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (2); and 
(3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as para-
graph (2). 
(b) ACCELERATED PAYMENTS FOR FLIGHT TRAIN-
ING.—Section 3313 of such title is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(k) 
ACCELERATED
PAYMENTS
FOR
CERTAIN 
FLIGHT TRAINING.— 
‘‘(1) PAYMENTS.—An individual enrolled in a 
program of education pursued at an institution of 
higher learning in which flight training is required 
to earn the degree being pursued (including with re-
spect to a dual major, concentration, or other ele-
ment of such a degree) may elect to receive acceler-
ated payments of amounts for tuition and fees deter-
mined under subsection (c). The amount of each ac-
celerated payment shall be an amount equal to twice 
the amount for tuition and fee so determined under 
such subsection, but the total amount of such pay-
ments may not exceed the total amount of tuition 
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and fees for the program of education. The amount 
of monthly stipends shall be determined in accord-
ance with such subsection (c) and may not be accel-
erated under this paragraph. 
‘‘(2) EDUCATIONAL
COUNSELING.—An indi-
vidual may make an election under paragraph (1) 
only if the individual receives educational counseling 
under section 3697A(a) of this title. 
‘‘(3) CHARGE
AGAINST
ENTITLEMENT.—The 
number of months of entitlement charged an indi-
vidual for accelerated payments made pursuant to 
paragraph (1) shall be determined at the rate of two 
months for each month in which such an accelerated 
payment is made.’’. 
(c) FLIGHT TRAINING AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.— 
Subsection (c)(1)(A) of such section 3313 is amended— 
(1) in clause (i)— 
(A) by redesignating subclauses (I) and 
(II) as items (aa) and (bb), respectively; 
(B) by striking ‘‘In the case of a program 
of education pursued at a public institution of 
higher learning’’ and inserting ‘‘(I) Subject to 
subclause (II), in the case of a program of edu-
cation pursued at a public institution of higher 
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learning not described in clause (ii)(II)(bb)’’; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subclause: 
‘‘(II) In determining the actual net 
cost for in-State tuition and fees pursuant 
to subclause (I), the Secretary may not 
pay for tuition and fees relating to flight 
training.’’; and 
(2) in clause (ii)— 
(A) in subclause (I), by redesignating 
items (aa) and (bb) as subitems (AA) and 
(BB), respectively; 
(B) in subclause (II), by redesignating 
items (aa) and (bb) as subitems (AA) and 
(BB), respectively; 
(C) by redesignating subclauses (I) and 
(II) as items (aa) and (bb), respectively; 
(D) by striking ‘‘In the case of a program 
of education pursued at a non-public or foreign 
institution of higher learning’’ and inserting 
‘‘(I) In the case of a program of education de-
scribed in subclause (II)’’; and 
(E) by adding at the end the following new 
subclause: 
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‘‘(II) A program of education de-
scribed in this subclause is any of the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(aa) A program of education 
pursued at a non-public or foreign in-
stitution of higher learning. 
‘‘(bb) A program of education 
pursued at a public institution of 
higher learning in which flight train-
ing is required to earn the degree 
being pursued (including with respect 
to a dual major, concentration, or 
other element of such a degree).’’. 
(d) CERTAIN PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION CARRIED 
OUT UNDER CONTRACT.—Section 3313(c)(1)(A)(ii)(II) of 
title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(c)(2)(E), is amended by adding at the end the following 
new item: 
‘‘(cc) A program of education 
pursued at a public institution of 
higher learning in which the public in-
stitution of higher learning enters into 
a contract or agreement with an enti-
ty (other than another public institu-
tion of higher learning) to provide 
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