I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8889 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend to Black veterans of 
World War II, and surviving spouses and certain direct descendants 
of such veterans, eligibility for certain housing loans and educational 
assistance administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 7, 2020 
Mr. MOULTON (for himself and Mr. CLYBURN) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend to Black 
veterans of World War II, and surviving spouses and 
certain direct descendants of such veterans, eligibility 
for certain housing loans and educational assistance ad-
ministered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Sgt. Isaac Woodard, 
Jr. and Sgt. Joseph H. Maddox GI Bill Repair Act of 
2020’’. 
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SEC. 2. HOUSING LOANS GUARANTEED BY THE SECRETARY 
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR BLACK VET-
ERANS OF WORLD WAR II AND SURVIVORS 
AND CERTAIN DIRECT DESCENDANTS OF 
SUCH VETERANS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Chapter 37 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended as follows: 
(1) DEFINITION.—Section 3701(b) of such title 
is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(7) The term ‘veteran’ also includes, for pur-
poses of housing loans, a former member of the 
Armed Forces who— 
‘‘(A) is Black; and 
‘‘(B) served on active duty at any time 
during World War II. 
‘‘(8) The term ‘veteran’ also includes, for pur-
poses of housing loans, an individual who— 
‘‘(A) is the surviving spouse, child, grand-
child, or other direct descendant of a veteran 
described in paragraph (7); and 
‘‘(B) is living on the date of the enactment 
of the Sgt. Isaac Woodard, Jr. and Sgt. Joseph 
H. Maddox GI Bill Repair Act of 2020.’’. 
(2) 
BASIC
ENTITLEMENT.—Section 
3702(a)(2)(E) of such title is amended by striking 
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‘‘section 3701(b)(5)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (5), 
(7), or (8) of section 3701(b)’’. 
(b) DEADLINE.—The Secretary shall carry out the 
amendment made by this section not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall prescribe regulations to carry out the amend-
ment made by this section. 
(d) GAO REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 
deadline under subsection (b), the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall submit to Congress a report re-
garding— 
(1) the number of individuals who received 
housing loan benefits pursuant to the amendment 
made by this section; and 
(2) the total value of housing loan benefits ad-
ministered by the Secretary pursuant to the amend-
ment made by this section. 
SEC. 3. EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR SURVIVORS AND 
CERTAIN DIRECT DESCENDANTS OF BLACK 
VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subsection (b) of section 
3311 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new paragraph: 
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‘‘(11) An individual described in section 
3701(b)(8) of this title.’’. 
(b) DEADLINE.—The Secretary shall carry out the 
amendment made by this section not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall prescribe regulations to carry out the amend-
ment made by this section. 
(d) GAO REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 
deadline under subsection (b), the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall submit to Congress a report re-
garding— 
(1) the number of individuals who received edu-
cational assistance pursuant to the amendment 
made by this section; and 
(2) the total amount of educational assistance 
paid by the Secretary pursuant to the amendment 
made by this section. 
SEC. 4. BLUE RIBBON PANEL ON BENEFITS AND ASSIST-
ANCE FOR FEMALE AND MINORITY VET-
ERANS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall establish a panel of independent ex-
perts on— 
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