H. R. 1585—106 
respect to an eligible member making an election under subsection 
(a) for a program of education shall be the lesser of— 
‘‘(A) the amount equal to 60 percent of the established 
charges for the program of education; or 
‘‘(B) the aggregate amount of educational assistance allow-
ance to which the member remains entitled under this chapter 
at the time of the payment. 
‘‘(2)(A) In this subsection, except as provided in subparagraph 
(B), the term ‘established charges’, in the case of a program of 
education, means the actual charges (as determined pursuant to 
regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs) for 
tuition and fees which similarly circumstanced individuals who 
are not eligible for benefits under this chapter and who are enrolled 
in the program of education would be required to pay. Established 
charges shall be determined on the following basis: 
‘‘(i) In the case of an individual enrolled in a program 
of education offered on a term, quarter, or semester basis, 
the tuition and fees charged the individual for the term, 
quarter, or semester. 
‘‘(ii) In the case of an individual enrolled in a program 
of education not offered on a term, quarter, or semester basis, 
the tuition and fees charged the individual for the entire pro-
gram of education. 
‘‘(B) In this subsection, the term ‘established charges’ does 
not include any fees or payments attributable to the purchase 
of a vehicle. 
‘‘(3) The educational institution providing the program of edu-
cation for which an accelerated payment of educational assistance 
allowance is elected by an eligible member under subsection (a) 
shall certify to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the amount of 
the established charges for the program of education. 
‘‘(d) TIME OF PAYMENT.—An accelerated payment of educational 
assistance allowance made with respect to an eligible member under 
this section for a program of education shall be made not later 
than the last day of the month immediately following the month 
in which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs receives a certification 
from the educational institution regarding— 
‘‘(1) the member’s enrollment in and pursuit of the program 
of education; and 
‘‘(2) the amount of the established charges for the program 
of education. 
‘‘(e) CHARGE AGAINST ENTITLEMENT.—(1) Except as provided 
in paragraph (2), for each accelerated payment of educational assist-
ance allowance made with respect to an eligible member under 
this section, the member’s entitlement to educational assistance 
under this chapter shall be charged the number of months (and 
any fraction thereof) determined by dividing the amount of the 
accelerated payment by the full-time monthly rate of educational 
assistance allowance otherwise payable with respect to the member 
under section 16162 of this title as of the beginning date of the 
enrollment period for the program of education for which the accel-
erated payment is made. 
‘‘(2) If the monthly rate of educational assistance allowance 
otherwise payable with respect to an eligible member under section 
16162 of this title increases during the enrollment period of a 
program of education for which an accelerated payment of edu-
cational assistance allowance is made under this section, the charge
H. R. 1585—107 
to the member’s entitlement to educational assistance under this 
chapter shall be determined by prorating the entitlement charge-
able, in the manner provided for under paragraph (1), for the 
periods covered by the initial rate and increased rate, respectively, 
in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs. 
‘‘(f) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pre-
scribe regulations to carry out this section. The regulations shall 
include requirements, conditions, and methods for the request, 
issuance, delivery, certification of receipt and use, and recovery 
of overpayment of an accelerated payment of educational assistance 
allowance under this section. The regulations may include such 
elements of the regulations prescribed under section 3014A of title 
38 as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate for 
purposes of this section. 
‘‘(g) LIMITATION.—The aggregate amount of educational assist-
ance payable under this section in any fiscal year for enrollments 
covered by subsection (b)(1) may not exceed $3,000,000.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 1607 of such title is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 16162 the following new 
item: 
‘‘16162a. Accelerated payment of educational assistance.’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this sub-
section shall take effect on October 1, 2008, and shall only 
apply to initial enrollments in approved programs of education 
after such date. 
(c) ENHANCEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR RESERVE 
COMPONENT MEMBERS SUPPORTING CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS AND 
OTHER OPERATIONS.— 
(1) ASSISTANCE FOR THREE YEARS CUMULATIVE SERVICE.— 
Subsection (c)(4)(C) of section 16162 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘for two continuous years or 
more.’’ and inserting ‘‘for— 
‘‘(i) two continuous years or more; or 
‘‘(ii) an aggregate of three years or more.’’. 
(2) CONTRIBUTIONS
FOR
INCREASED
AMOUNT
OF
EDU-
CATIONAL
ASSISTANCE.—Such section is further amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(f) CONTRIBUTIONS FOR INCREASED AMOUNT OF EDUCATIONAL 
ASSISTANCE.—(1)(A) Any individual eligible for educational assist-
ance under this section may contribute amounts for purposes of 
receiving an increased amount of educational assistance as provided 
for in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(B) An individual covered by subparagraph (A) may make 
the contributions authorized by that subparagraph at any time 
while a member of a reserve component, but not more frequently 
than monthly. 
‘‘(C) The total amount of the contributions made by an indi-
vidual under subparagraph (A) may not exceed $600. Such contribu-
tions shall be made in multiples of $20. 
‘‘(D) Contributions under this subsection shall be made to the 
Secretary concerned. Such Secretary shall deposit any amounts 
received as contributions under this subsection into the Treasury 
as miscellaneous receipts.